A group of Humboldt Penquins enters the water area of their new habitat for the first time, Tuesday, April 7, 2009, at the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Apr 7, 2009 at 12:41 PM PDT
By Travis Mayfield
SEATTLE -- It's moving day at the Woodland Park Zoo and the newest inhabitants are dressed in their best for the occasion.
"I can't tell you how excited we are to have penguins back at the Woodland Park Zoo," says Penguin Keeper Celine Pardo. "And to see them in their new exhibit is really something special."
For $6.5 million, the 17,500 square-foot exhibit should be special. It's taken several years to build and was financed through the largest private gift in Woodland Park's history.
After closing the previous penguin exhibit, the birds were sent to other zoos across the country. Three weeks ago, 20 penguins from five different zoos arrived in Seattle to begin acclimation.
Tuesday morning, the penguin colony was released for the first time into their new environment.
Two of the penguins, Pizarron and Radar, were originally hatched at Woodland park so this is a homecoming for them.
"These are Humboldt penguins. They are a species native to the coast of Peru," explained Pardo.
That is why the exhibit doesn't look like an Antarctic ice shelf.
Exhibit Project Manager Monica Lake says when the exhibit officially opens to the public in May, visitors can expect to see a replica of the coast of Peru.
"The guano cliffs that we are recreating here is where the seabirds and the penguins have historically made their nests," she said.
Lake says with the exhibit, they are trying to bring the penguins an environment that replicates their natural environment and give visitors an up-close-experience.
"We think that will give visitors the best chance to see how penguins really behave," Lake said.
With long windows and acrylic walls, visitors will be treated to dramatic underwater views bringing many guests nose-to-beak with the penguins.
"Not only can people see penguins playing and frolicking on the beach but they can see them flying under water," says Lake.
Humboldt penguins can 'fly' underwater at speeds of up to 17 mph.
Keeper Celine Pardo says, "Penguins are naturally very curious and suspect animals."
So far the new colony has taken to the new exhibit like 'penguins to water.'
Woodland Park Zoo plans to hold a ribbon cutting on May 1st and then open the entire penguin exhibit to the public May 2nd.
More information at zoo.org
Story courtesy of Komo News @
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/42613527.html
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