Colony of penguins takes first swim at Seattle zoo

Colony of penguins takes first swim at Seattle zoo

A new colony of Humboldt penguins waddled into their new home at Seattle's Woodland Park Zoo and took their first dip in the pool.
SEATTLE —

A new colony of Humboldt penguins waddled into their new home at Seattle's Woodland Park Zoo and took their first dip in the pool.

The 20 endangered penguins from zoos in San Diego, New York and Chicago ventured outdoors for the first time Tuesday since arriving here two weeks ago.

The zoo exhibit opens to the public May 2.

The penguin's new 17,000-square foot home replicates the desert coast of Peru where the largest colony of wild Humboldt penguins are found. Unlike their snow-dwelling cousins, these penguins live in rocky mainland shores.

The animals are in Seattle as part of a program to help the species form a new breeding colony.

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On the Net:

Woodland Park Zoo: http://www.zoo.org/penguins/

Article courtesy of the Seattle Times@
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009000689_apwaseattlepenguins.html

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Penguins check out the new digs

By STEPHANIE KLEIN
MyNorthwest.com

The Woodland Park Zoo has a new home for its penguins.

Previously in quarantine, the 20 young Humboldts from zoos around the country were allowed to take a tour of their new 17,000 square foot digs. It was the first time the media was allowed to witness introduction into a new habitat.

With simulated waves crashing on the rocky shore as a backdrop, almost 20 tuxedoed birds waddled out to the April sunshine. It was a little confusing for them at first, but the combination of their natural curiosity and the irresistible, crystal-blue water made it impossible to resist a swim. Soon enough, the Humboldts were flying back and forth underwater in their new pool. There was splashing, diving, and a few reserved squawks. Every so often, one lone penguin would jump out onto shore, prompting the whole group to take a short break.

The new exhibit resembles the desert coast of Punta San Juan in Peru, which is home to the largest colony of wild Humboldt penguins in the country. Visitors will get a chance to press their faces up against the acrylic walls and come face to beak with the diving birds. It's impossible for anyone to resist grinning ear to ear.

The zoo says it's committed to "green" practices, which means outfitting the new penguin exhibit with sustainable equipment. The water is kept warm with geothermal energy piped in from deep below the new habitat and the water is kept clean with a new filtration system that will save 3 million gallons of water per year. Even the concrete that visitors will walk on is porous, allowing rainwater to seep into the zoo grounds.

The birds themselves are part of the Humboldt penguin Species Survival Plan and are expected to become a breeding colony. Unlike their Emperor cousins, the Humboldts don't live in snowy, icy conditions. These birds spend their days on the dry, hot, rocky shores of Peru and Chile chasing down anchovies, which are being over-fished. The penguins are losing their natural nest building materials with the over-harvest of guano deposits.

Visitors will get a chance to see the new exhibit Saturday May 2.



Penguins at Woodland Park Zoo - video powered by Metacafe

Story, video, and image courtesy of My Northwest@
http://www.mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=153576