Lincoln zoo to build habitat

By Carol Bicak
World-Herald BUREAU

LINCOLN — The Lincoln Children's Zoo needs to raise $300,000 to build a habitat for four to six breeding pairs of the endangered Humboldt penguin.

Lincoln's zoo is one of 16 zoos across the country selected for the penguin program.

The zoo's record of successfully breeding such endangered animals as the tree kangaroo and red panda led to the selection by leaders of the Humboldt Penguin Species Survival Plan, said John Chapo, president and CEO of the Lincoln zoo.

There are only about 25,000 Humboldt penguins, which live on the coasts of Chile and Peru, remaining in the wild. A total of 292 live in U.S. zoos, but last year, only 20 chicks were born at those zoos.

The Lincoln zoo plans to create penguin habitat at the former harbor seal pool. That will reduce the cost of building the habitat by about $1.5 million, Chapo said, adding that $50,000 already has been raised.

The habitat will include expanded viewing areas, an extended rocky beach, a large mural of an ocean view from the coast of Chile, an off-exhibit facility for the penguins and educational space.

For more information, visit www.lincolnzoo.org.
Contact the writer:
444-1067, carol.bicak@owh.com

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