Maryland Zoo's new Penguin Coast nearly complete

New $11M facility to double number of penguins, let visitors get closer

 

Sep 09, 2014

 

BALTIMORE —Two years and $11 million later, the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore's new Penguin Coast exhibit is nearly complete.

The people behind the project said it's a state-of-the-art-exhibit that will allow visitors to get up close and personal with the South African penguins, which will move into their new pad later this month. Some of them have already started the transition. "It is a world-class facility. It is our signature facility right now," said zoo bird collection specialist Amy Eveleth.

Before the new exhibit opens, however, all of the final touches have to be completed. 11 News got a sneak peek into Penguin Coast before it opens, and even though there's work to be done, it's impressive. It's designed to make the penguins feel more at home. "It's 360 degrees, so you can see penguins from any angle of this exhibit, and we also have underwater viewing. In our education center is a swimming channel that's 8 feet deep with underwater viewing glass," said Jen Kottyan, the bird collection manager.

There's also Penguin Encounters, which lets visitors get up close and personal with them. "It will be very easy to get guests in and out of there. So, they can get very close to one and they can see one and learn exactly what the keeper's going to do with them every day. It's a really cool area within the exhibit that doesn't impact the main exhibit," Eveleth said.

The penguins have been living at Rock Island since the 1960s. Zoo officials said they're definitely moving up in the world, but it's not just the waterfront property that makes the new piece of real estate so impressive.

The Maryland Zoo is one of the country's largest breeding colonies of African penguins. In 2009, the status of African penguins in the wild became endangered, which has made the zoo's role important, and the new exhibit reflects that. "Our capability to house African penguins now doubles. So, instead of housing about 50, we can house about 100," Kottyan said.

Penguin Coast opens Sept. 27. The zoo will be closed from Sept. 22-25 ahead of that opening.

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