Roger Williams Park Zoo Opens New Penguin Exhibit

Categories: CommunityEvents/What's HappeningNatureNews

Humboldt penguins enjoying their new habitat at the Roger Williams Park Zoo.

News Summary

The Roger Williams Park Zoo is set to celebrate the grand opening of its new penguin exhibit, ‘Penguin Point,’ during Memorial Day weekend. The exhibit features 12 Humboldt penguins, relocated from Peru. The opening will include a ribbon-cutting ceremony and an engaging event called ‘Penguin Palooza’ with various activities for families. This marks the return of penguins to the zoo after a decade-long absence and aims to raise awareness about the endangered Humboldt penguins.

Providence, RI – The Roger Williams Park Zoo will mark the grand opening of its new penguin exhibit, “Penguin Point,” during Memorial Day weekend. The celebration will kick off with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday morning, welcoming guests to explore the latest addition to the zoo.

This new exhibit is home to a colony of 12 Humboldt penguins, a species notable for their quirky and sun-loving nature. The penguins have moved into a redesigned area that was once used to house harbor seals. The last of the seals, known as Bubba, vacated this enclosure in the fall of 2022 after the loss of his companion Action several years prior in 2019. After the renovated space became available, the Humboldt penguins were transported from Peru and are now acclimating to their new surroundings.

On May 24, the zoo will host “Penguin Palooza,” an engaging event from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., aimed at introducing the public to the penguins. Families can participate in various activities including feeding sessions, zookeeper talks, and penguin-themed crafts. In case of inclement weather, the event will be postponed to May 25.

Humboldt penguins typically weigh around 9 pounds and stand between 15 to 18 inches tall. Their diet consists of fish, squid, and crustaceans. Once thriving with over a million individuals in the mid-19th century, these penguins are now classified as “vulnerable” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), with an estimated population of just 12,000 breeding pairs left in the wild. The primary threats faced by Humboldt penguins include overfishing, accidental captures in fishing nets, climate change, and the destruction of nesting sites due to guano harvesting.

This marks the return of penguins to the Roger Williams Park Zoo after an absence that dates back to 2013. The zoo is now one of only 24 facilities in North America that are actively caring for Humboldt penguins. The zoo’s team is optimistic that the penguins will quickly adapt to the warm summers typical in Rhode Island, ensuring their comfort and well-being during the summer season.

Beyond providing a new attraction, the zoo’s initiative aims to contribute positively to the conservation of Humboldt penguins, promoting awareness of their vulnerable status and fostering a healthy and genetically diverse population through educational outreach and conservation efforts.

The public is invited to join this exciting new chapter at Roger Williams Park Zoo as they open their doors to the charming Humboldt penguins this Memorial Day weekend.