Make Waves for Marwell's Penguins
Join World of Swimming and Marwell Wildlife in a sponsored swim between 11 May – 28 June 2026 to raise money for the Humboldt penguin colony here at Marwell Zoo.
We’ve teamed up with World of Swimming to ‘Make Waves for Marwell’s Penguins’, inviting young swimmers and their families to take part in a fun and meaningful challenge.
Humboldt penguins are built for life in the water. They are streamlined, powerful swimmers that use their flipper-like wings to ‘fly’ through the water. In the wild, they often swim against ocean currents as they hunt and explore – helping to keep them strong, active and healthy.
At Marwell, we are always looking for ways to further enhance the animal’s environment and encourage natural behaviours. Last year, we trialled a flow cannon on a temporary loan and saw the penguins actively engage with it, swimming into, through and alongside the current it created.
With support from the World of Swimming team, we plan to install a permanent flow cannon in the penguin pool, creating a current, or ‘waves’, for them to swim against. This helps with muscle development, encourages movement and creates a more dynamic and stimulating environment. It can even be used at feeding times, allowing fish to move through the current – encouraging the penguins to chase their food more actively.
By taking part in the swim, supporters will be helping to enhance the habitat for a species currently listed as vulnerable in the wild.
Every splash, stroke and sponsored length will help create this exciting step for Marwell’s penguin colony.
How it works
Sign up, set a swimming goal and complete sponsored lengths during the challenge.
As this is a sponsored swim, we suggest setting a minimum fundraising target of £30. Everyone that reaches this target will receive a Swimmer’s Reward.
Step 1: Sign up
Sign-up on the World of Swimming website. In the post, you will receive:
- World of Swimming Swim Hat
- Penguin Passport
- Sticker Pack
- Guide to setting up your JustGiving fundraising page
Step 2: Swim
Choose your distance and complete the challenge at your own pace, at a location that suits you.
Step 3: Make Waves
Share your progress and raise money to unlock rewards.
Boost your impact – fundraise with us!
Every donation helps Marwell’s conservation work and will directly support the purchase of a permanent flow cannon for our Humboldt penguins. The current it creates encourages natural swimming behaviours and play, mimicking the ocean conditions they’d experience in the wild.
Setting up a personalised fundraising page is simple via our dedicated JustGiving campaign.
Swimmer’s Rewards
£30 raised: A child day ticket to Marwell Zoo, plus a commemorative pin badge and certificate.
£50 raised: All of the above plus an adorable penguin plush toy
£100+ raised: All of the above plus a Humboldt penguin adoption and recognition on the World of Swimming Penguin Adopters Board, located at Marwell’s Penguin Cove.
The top five fundraisers will also receive an annual pass to Marwell Zoo and be invited, along with their direct family, to Marwell when we unveil the new flow cannon. You’ll get to meet the penguin keepers, enjoy a day at the zoo and take home your very own penguin-themed goody bag.
Set up a JustGiving page to start fundraising now.
Ready to make waves?
Sign up today and make a splash for these amazing animals.
