Does the Penguin exhibit just involve them crossing a path through a passageway visitors can presumably lean over to get closer to them? Is that the idea?
Basically, yes, but it's not like the public couldn't get very close with the enclosure as it is. To me, the whole thing seems gimmicky and pointless but that's not to say Joe Public won't be impressed (time will tell), provided they've never visited too many other zoos of course.
I have been in at least one walkthough vulture aviary in Holland, but I know how nasty Andean Condors can be.
Bald Eagle in with ducks? Would that be a non-flying bird? Just curious, only wild Bald Eagles eat a lot of ducks. I suppose it's no stranger than fish in with crocodilians in zoos, where predator doesn't seem to bother potential prey. BUT, you wouldn't put Zebras in with Lions....
Basically, yes, but it's not like the public couldn't get very close with the enclosure as it is. To me, the whole thing seems gimmicky and pointless but that's not to say Joe Public won't be impressed (time will tell), provided they've never visited too many other zoos of course.
They are copying e.g. Edinburgh's 'Penguin Parade' rather, trying to highlight the Penguins' cute waddling walk for people to look at. Much cheaper than major new exhibits of course!
It looks confusing but my guess is its another Penguin 'mini-area', so they can walk from one to the other along the corridor. I would almost guarantee the public won't be able to touch, 'pet' or even get too near them- too much danger of stabs from pointed beaks and health/safety regulations.
Its interesting all these changes are quite 'low budget' ones-of existing enclosures, rather than anything major.
I really don't understand the Penguin Walk concept. Do they stick a couple of fences across the visitor path so the penguins go into the little sandy bit on the left to be fed, and then they go back to their pool? It doesn't seem to make sense.