National Aviary's New Outdoor African Penguin Exhibit Opened Today

National Aviary's New Outdoor African Penguin Exhibit Opened Today

By Laura Ellis

Pittsburgh, PA - Penguin Point, the National Aviary’s new outdoor African penguin exhibit, opened Saturday, May 23, giving visitors the opportunity to see Stanley, Simon, Sidney, Elvis and Patrick -- and six new team members -- interacting, playing, swimming and diving in a natural setting that emulates the rocky shores of the birds’ native South Africa.

Penguin Point affords up-close, 360-degree views of African penguins in an open-air space. A wheelchair accessible Kids ViewTube tunnel under the exhibit provides underwater views of the penguins “flying” through the pool, while domed bubbles allow young guests the chance to pop up in the middle of the penguin group. The $1.7 million exhibit was designed by Peckham Guyton Albers & Viets, Inc. of St. Louis (PGAV).

“With the opening of Penguin Point, guests will for the first time have the opportunity to see all of the Aviary’s penguins together on exhibit,” says National Aviary Executive Director Patrick Mangus. “We’ve designed the space to give the closest possible experience for our guests. Not only will you be able to watch their antics in and out of the water, the open-air setting will allow you to hear and smell the penguins, much like you would if you visited the beaches of South Africa.”

The exhibit will also feature a number of educational components focusing on the plight of African penguins in the wild.

“African penguin populations are dropping so rapidly that it has been predicted that they could be extinct in the wild within 15 years,” adds Mangus. “We will draw attention to the human impacts that are causing this drop, and will inform guests about the Aviary’s involvement in the African Penguin Species Survival Plan. This program, directed by Association of Zoos & Aquariums, is a carefully managed breeding program that works to preserve a genetically strong population of African penguins in U.S. zoos. Several of the new penguins we have acquired are of genetic importance and will likely be bred at the National Aviary.”

African penguins are listed as “vulnerable” to extinction on the Red Data list. Their wild populations, once numbering in the millions, have dropped to just 27,000 breeding pairs, down from nearly 60,000 pairs just two years ago.

Penguin Point will be open daily beginning Saturday, May 23. National Aviary summer hours (9 am – 5 pm) begin May 23. National Aviary admission is $10 adults; $9 seniors; $8.50 children ages 2 and up. Under 2 admitted free. More information at www.aviary.org or by calling 412.323.7235.

National Aviary
700 Arch Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15212
www.aviary.org / 412.323.7235

Source:
http://www.zandavisitor.com/newsarticle-1502-National_Aviarys_New_Outdoor_African_Penguin_Exhibit_Opened_Today