The penguin encounter at the National Aviary in Pittsburgh: One of my Christmas gifts was 30 minutes (in heaven) with Dottie, a South African penguin, and it was amazing. I wanted to take her home (obviously) but was deterred when the trainer informed us that she poops every ten minutes and eats 15% of her body weight in fish everyday. Ah, thanks, but no thanks. Also, penguin fun facts: they are really soft and hate to be handled (just like me). Yay!