Expanded penguin exhibit opens at zoo

Zookeeper Mary Beth Flynn of Pittsford handles an African black-footed penguin during the re-opening of the expanded exhibit at the Seneca Park Zoo in Rochester on Thursday, March 31, 2011. / CARLOS ORTIZ staff photographer.

Mar. 31, 2011

New penguin exhibit at the zoo 

 

Seneca Park Zoo officials were joined today by Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks to announce the re-opening of the exhibit of African black-footed penguins in the Rocky Coasts area of Seneca Park Zoo.
When a leak was detected in the exhibit's 14-year-old penguin pool in early 2010, officials decided not only to repair the leak but also to make improvements to the exhibit.

The new exhibit includes more surface area in the pool, varied water depths and water jets. The enhancements will provide zoo-goers a better view of the birds.

"Once the penguins have acclimated to their newly-renovated home, visitors should be able see them swimming consistently for the first time," Zoo Director Larry Sorel said in a press release.

The zoo has one of the top breeding programs for African black-footed penguins in North America. Since the breeding program began in the 1990s, 79 chicks have been hatched, nine since last September when contruction began on the exhibit. Today, the expanded exhibit is home to 33 penguins..

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