Another penguin exhibit? How many new penguin habitats have been built in North American zoos during the past decade? I was just telling someone in a private message a few days ago that I honestly believe that penguins have become marquee animals for zoos, helped in part by the success of the Hollywood films "Happy Feet" and "March of the Penguins". Calgary Zoo is spending $24 million on their 2012 penguin exhibit, but does anyone know the details for the one at the Aquarium of the Pacific? Cost, size, species, location, etc?
Completely agree with you there. Although I think Santa Barbara may still be closer to me. LA needs some penguins. The zoo unfortunately has a bad history with them, so the aquarium makes good sense.
I agree, but in the past few years there have been more new penguin exhibits built than just about any single other animal in any zoo worldwide. Interestingly enough in Anthony Sheridan's book "What Zoos Can Do" (profiling the best 80 zoos in Europe) he did not rank penguins in the top 15 animals in his iconic species listing guide. Penguins were ranked in the 16-30 section, and I firmly believe that those little black-and-white birds are most definitely one of the most popular animals at any zoo. Of Europe's 80 best zoos there are 61 that currently have a penguin exhibit, but 5 of those zoos have definite plans for new penguin habitats and so in a few years there will be 66 out of 80 with the birds. That total is about the exact same as the number of zoos with elephants, sea lions/seals and meerkats.
Somehow I highly doubt that more penguin exhibits are being built than for any other taxa. Yes there are a few penguin exhibits that open every year and many more will come. But in a quick survey of new exhibits over the last 5 years in North America: new penguins exhibits are outnumbered by big cat and bear (excluding polar bear ) exhibits. And are about equal in number to new otter and elephant exhibits.
Though it would be very interesting to see the pattern in association with the movie releases.
