If you were able to catch the NHL Stadium Series game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers over the weekend, you more than likely saw Penguins roaming freely on a small ice surface outside the actual ice rink.

It led to some great photos and loud cheers from the Pittsburgh faithful at Heinz Field. However, one group isn’t too happy with the way the Penguins were treated.

PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) sent a sternly-worded letter to the Pittsburgh Penguins admonishing the treatment of the animals. It notes how the penguins reacted to the fireworks that were set off on the field. The penguins obviously didn’t take well to the loud noises and responded poorly to them.

Fireworks scaring penguins at the Stadium Series game

PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman had this to say in the letter:

“It’s inherently stressful for wild animals like penguins to be hauled around, used as props, and exposed to noisy crowds, with or without explosives going off. PETA is calling for the only Penguins on the ice at Heinz Field to be humans on skates.”

This seemed more like a chance to be witty than an actual demand for them to stop. Nonetheless, the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium responded to their request with some info of their own. Below is part of the statement they released:

“The NHL worked with us to ensure that the penguins would be safe and enjoy their visit to Heinz Field. The penguins who attended the Winter Classic are some of the same penguins that participate in our weekend Penguins on Parade event. They are very comfortable around people and noises.”

They would also go on to note that the reaction of the penguins flapping their wings only lasted “less than ten seconds” before they went back on their sheet of ice:

“The loud pop from the pyro technical display temporarily startled the penguins and their first reaction, similar to a human’s when startled, they flapped their wings.”

Somehow the Penguins franchise is being left out of this tiff without a scratch on them. Pretty impressive if you ask me. It’s probably for the best to let the two animal based organizations battle this out via planned statements. No need to be in the crossfire.

[CBS Pittsburgh]

About Sam Blazer

Sam is a self proclaimed chess prodigy. He once placed seventh in the state of Ohio in Chess when he was in kindergarten. He will rarely if ever mention though that only eight people were entered in this tournament. Contact him at sblaze17@gmail.com

5 thoughts on “PETA is furious that live penguins were used at the NHL Stadium Series game

  1. I find PETA too militant and extreme for my sensibilities, but they are absolutely right about this. Those poor penguins were obviously terrified when those fireworks went off.

    1. I bet there were a crap load of little kids who were scared out of their minds too…should we ban people from bringing their kids too? The penguin was startled…for 20 seconds…cry me a freaking river

      1. Are you trying to make the case that human children and penguins are equivalent? You’re an uneducated rube. I’m even willing to bet you’re that special kind of idiot that takes pride in their own ignorance as if being stupid and uninformed is a virtue.

        Listen up Jethro, stress can be very damaging to the health of animals and the nervous system of penguins is very much different from that of homo sapiens. To use these animals as props is unethical.

        1. Wow, what an insulting punch in the gut there…I gotta lie down. I see that there’s no point belaboring the issue. I find that, when dealing with those who are clearly tilted off of their “reasonability” axis, it’s best to let them wobble off into deep space idiocy on their own. Anyway, from the sounds of it, we had better get those Penguins off somewhere where they can’t be startled, less they be mortally wounded.

  2. i find PETA a retarded organisation that will do anything for a little bit of media attention.

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