Are there an innovative penguin exhibits yet to be built?

I need to find an excuse to get to Detroit to see that. I liked Maryland Zoo's new habitat- it also had some sort of gull and a cormorant (I believe white-breasted) on exhibit. The thing that I don't like about previously mentioned polar penguin habitats (such as Saint Louis, San Diego, San Antonio, etc.) is the limited swimming space. Some of the larger penguins, such as kings and emperors, barely fit lengthwise. Instead, the tanks are long, deep, and skinny.

 

Where are the indoor polar penguin exhibits in North America (i.e., exhibits with icy habitat)?

I am aware of the Sea Worlds (San Diego, San Antonio, Orlando), St. Louis Zoo, Kansas City Zoo, Omaha Zoo (in their aquarium), Pittsburgh Zoo, Detroit Zoo, Central Park Zoo, and the Calgary Zoo.

 

I read that penguins suffer from walking on the concrete, and hard surface is the factor in breaking eggs of king penguins.

Perhaps more exhibits would show penguins with other species. Magellanic and Humboldts' are found together with Chilean flamingos and many regular zoo birds in the wild. Pity that zoos seem to follow the misconception that penguins are only Antarctic and flamingos only tropical. Rock hyraxes are found next to Africans on Boulder Beach. In Patagonia, Magellanics breed very close to mara, lesser rhea and guanaco, among others. In general, penguins are much more skilled in long-distance walking and climbing than it is shown in zoos.

I would also welcome walk-though land area, rather like Emmen, rather than typical pool serving as a moat.

 

Mixed species habitats are something I'd like to see (although perhaps not in the same fashion that Henry Doorly used to have ). Also, we're kind of forgetting about little blues in this discussion. I haven't seen any little blue habitats that I truly liked. Are there any that be considered good? I've seen three, but can only remember two.

 

Your list of 10 zoos with icy penguin habitats is a good one and both Omaha and Pittsburgh have the birds in their aquarium buildings. As well as those 10, there is also Indianapolis Zoo and Montreal Biodome.

 

The Fort Worth Zoo has a kind of weird habitat. Africans are outdoor. Inside, however, is chilled, but it can't be too much. Both Africans and rockhoppers are indoors.

 

Brookfield Zoo and Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago both have ditched the old school 'refrigerator' exhibits for new habitats friendlier to more tropical species - the former has had Humboltd penguins for twenty years now, and the latter plans to open a new African penguin exhibit next year. Both formerly had species including King penguins. The Shedd Aquarium still has a more antarctic-inspired display that includes three species, but mostly Rockhopper penguins IIRC

Milwaukee County Zoo in Wisconsin has a Humboldt penguin exhibit that greets guests and in the Aviary has an older refrigerator-style exhibit for Antarctic penguin species. I like that the zoo offers both options, although the latter exhibit is much less satisfactory and shows it's age, it's nice to see the more familiar King penguin. The Humboldt exhibit is one of the best Milwaukee offers for any animal.

I don't know if this is a national or even midwestern trend, but did seem all three zoos hold or held the long-term intention to phase out antarctic species. As all Shedd exhibits are indoors, they happen to be in a unique position. I also noticed LPZ has jettisoned all other seabirds formerly housed in the aging Penguin-Seabird habitat.

I would love to visit a big icy habitat exhibit properly one day. Sounds fun.

 

Detroit Zoo Penguins

Here is an information site about our new penguin house, with a video tour. It's not what I would have spent $25 million on, but it is impressive.

Home - Polk Penguin Conservation Center

 

Milwaukee outside has humboldt penguins


Inside are Rockhopper and Gentoo Penguins

 

I've noticed the St. Louis zoo mentioned here a couple of times. This is personally one of the best penguin exhibits I have seen. Here's a couple pictures of the exhibit.