Grand Rapids Penguin Wins 'March Of The Penguin Madness' 2025

A penguin at Grand Rapids' John Ball Zoo has made a real splash in an exciting bracket style competition!

It was a heated battle of the birds in Penguin International's March of the Penguin Madness.

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With all the "madness" going on with college basketball, Penguin International hosts its own fun contest this time of year. People are encouraged to vote for their favorite penguins as a way to celebrate the animals, inspire learning, and encourage conservation.

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There were actually two competition's running side-by-side: In the Peng-Win Championship individual penguins are going up against each other. They've been nominated by zookeepers, those who work at aquariums, and museum staff. They serve as ambassadors to help raise awareness for penguins in the wild.

The Species Spirit Awards lets people vote for their favorite kind of penguin. So even if your individual pick gets knocked out, your favorite species might still win. This year, Adélie Penguins have clinched the Species Spirit Award.

The Grand Rapids penguin that has swept the competition in the Peng-Win Championship is Philbert (Phil), a 9-month-old Magellanic Penguin at John Ball Zoo.

John Ball Zoo via Facebook

Phil beat out 48 other competitors, taking first place and the title of "World's Most Popular Penguin"! He's the first ever U.S. penguin to win.

Phil was the smallest of three chicks that hatched last year. He had a tough go at the beginning, as he was not eating much. After a blood donation from his dad, he bounced back. And now he absolutely loves to eat!

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Last week the contest came down to the final three, with Phil taking the crown.

Nio, a Southern Rockhopper Penguin from Indianapolis Zoo came in at No. 2 and Marley, a Northern Rockhopper Penguin from the Aquarium at Moody Gardens took the No. 3 spot.

John Ball Zoo shared the news of Phil's win to social media saying,

On behalf of Phil and the entire team here at John Ball Zoo, we thank you for your unwavering support and love for Phil during this entire competition. Your support not only helped Phil take the crown but also brought awareness to penguin conservation efforts everywhere. Every bracket, every vote, and every cheer helps bring attention to these incredible birds and the work being done to protect them.
We couldn’t be prouder of our little champion. Now it’s time for a victory swim, a few extra fish, and LOTS of happy honking!

Great job to all the competitors and of course, to our very own Philbert!