News and Stories

New habitat gives popular warm-weather penguins more home to roam!

 CINCINNATI, OH (September 9, 2020) – The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden’s is thrilled to announce the opening of African Penguin Point! This new home for African penguins is three times larger than their former habitat and includes a dramatically larger indoor bedroom area to encourage breeding and expand nesting sites.

“African Penguin Point was funded through the Zoo’s More Home to Roam capital campaign, which aims to give animals more space and to improve visitor experience,” said Cincinnati Zoo director Thane Maynard.  “This habitat achieves both goals.  It’s so much fun to watch the penguins walk on their new sandy beach and dive into their gigantic pool.”

Visitors will enjoy a clear underwater view of the penguins swimming and interacting with the fans, misters, sprinklers, underwater jets, heat lamps, and other enrichment features that were built into the habitat to promote natural behaviors for overall optimal health and wellbeing. Some of the enrichment features will allow the colony to stay outside longer during the year when cooler temperatures would normally dictate otherwise.

“Because of the space and complexity of the habitat, three new species will be introduced to our African penguin colony, including eastern white pelicans, white-breasted cormorants, and yellow-billed ducks,” said Maynard. “They would encounter these birds in their native habitats, so it makes sense to put them together here.”

Become a Zoo member today so you can visit new habitats, like African Penguin Point and Roo Valley, and revisit newly reopened habitats like Wolf Woods, home of otters Sugar and Wesley. Other member perks include Early Entry*, free parking, no reservations required between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m., and discounts on food and retail. It’s all part of your Summer Adventure at the Cincinnati Zoo, presented by Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky Honda Dealers.

 *NOTE: Reservations are required for all guests.