The cold-weather penguins at Newport Aquarium are moving out. The aquarium announced Nov. 6 that the birds living in Penguin Palooza will be relocated to other zoos and aquariums over the coming months. The exhibit will then be rebuilt as the home of a much larger colony of endangered African penguins.
For families in Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky and Dayton, that means a limited window to see the King, Gentoo, Chinstrap and Macaroni penguins before they go. The aquarium is holding a farewell weekend, Waddlepalooza: A Warm Farewell, Nov. 20-22. It says the birds will stay on view through the holiday season for anyone who can’t make that weekend.
What’s Changing at Penguin Palooza
Penguin Palooza is the aquarium’s Antarctic exhibit. It is kept at 34 degrees, and its lighting follows a Southern Hemisphere schedule, so the penguins’ summer is our winter. Those four cold-climate species are the ones leaving.
Each bird is being placed individually. According to the aquarium, its animal care and veterinary teams spent months working with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan coordinators to find each penguin a new home, weighing its health, age, social relationships and specific needs. Chris Plante, the aquarium’s director of zoological operations, said every decision was driven by “what is best for the individual birds and what is best for the species long term.”
Once the cold-climate birds are gone, the space will be transformed for African penguins. The aquarium now keeps a small ambassador group of African penguins, nearly a dozen birds, best known from its Penguin Encounter program. The plan is to grow that group into a full colony. The aquarium has not yet announced an opening date, a final colony size or what the new habitat will look like. It says more details are coming as plans develop.
Why African Penguins
African penguins live along the coasts of South Africa and Namibia, not in Antarctica, and they are classified as critically endangered. Fewer than 20,000 remain in the wild, according to Newport Aquarium, which puts the current population at about 1% of its original size.
The aquarium already supports SANCCOB, the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds, which rescues, rehabilitates and releases African penguins and other seabirds. Part of each Penguin Encounter booking goes to that work. The new exhibit expands on that commitment. Visitors will see fewer penguin species but many more birds of a species that needs the help.
The aquarium acknowledges the trade-off. “These penguins have been part of so many family visits over the years, and people are going to miss them,” said Rebecca Foster, vice president and executive director.
Waddlepalooza: A Warm Farewell
The farewell weekend runs Friday through Sunday, Nov. 20-22. Planned activities include extended animal care talks, a guest memory wall and an African penguin conservation talk. Waddlepalooza is included with general admission or membership, and no separate ticket is required.
It is also the weekend before Thanksgiving, so expect a crowd. Newport Aquarium uses plan-ahead pricing on one-day tickets, and prices can rise as a date fills. Buying online in advance is the cheaper route. If that weekend doesn’t work, the penguins remain on view through the holidays, though the aquarium hasn’t announced a last day.
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Getting Closer to the African Penguins
Families who want to see the species behind the change can book a Penguin Encounter. The 30-minute session puts participants inside the African penguin habitat with an Animal Experience Specialist. Participants can take photos, and depending on the birds’ comfort, they may get a chance to touch one. Tickets are $59.99 plus tax and do not include aquarium admission. Annual members get discounts of 10% to 20% depending on membership level.
Plan Your Visit
- Address: Newport Aquarium, 1 Aquarium Way, Newport, KY 41071 (at Newport on the Levee)
- Waddlepalooza dates: Nov. 20-22
- Hours: Hours vary by day, so check the aquarium’s hours and calendar before you go.
- Admission: Waddlepalooza is included with general admission or membership. Prices vary by date. Buy Newport Aquarium tickets online.
- Penguin Encounter: $59.99 plus tax, admission not included. Book a Penguin Encounter.
- Parking: Newport on the Levee parking garage. See directions and parking information.
- Announcement: Newport Aquarium’s announcement on the African penguin expansion
