SeaWorld San Diego Penguin Encounter closing?

peruvianbirdie said:
@seaworld.photos (Instagram) confirmed by staff that Rockhoppers have been removed from the exhibit. She believes the temperature adjustment for emperors could be the reasoning for removal, I also would add either to avoid hybridization with SWCA Macaronis or temperament but I can be incorrect.
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Hybridization between Macaronis and Southern Rockhoppers isn’t a huge concern overall, and several facilities like Detroit and Omaha mix them with no real issues. The main thing is ensuring there is adequate enough space for both species to thrive independently of one another. So temperature is more likely than not the main reasoning - they could still survive, but would likely struggle to breed and thrive in such cold conditions.
 
Sphenisciologist said:
The main thing is ensuring there is adequate enough space for both species to thrive independently of one another. So temperature is more likely than not the main reasoning - they could still survive, but would likely struggle to breed and thrive in such cold conditions.
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I second that temperature isn't the main issue, the published ACM lists Rockhopper as being in the same range as King. They would however be directly competing with the Macaronis for space. I do know Orlando was potentially doing a significant amount of shunting and transferring in their populations within the last several months, assumably to make room for the transfers from SD. How much transferring ended up happening I've no idea.
 
Great Argus said:
I second that temperature isn't the main issue, the published ACM lists Rockhopper as being in the same range as King. They would however be directly competing with the Macaronis for space. I do know Orlando was potentially doing a significant amount of shunting and transferring in their populations within the last several months, assumably to make room for the transfers from SD. How much transferring ended up happening I've no idea.
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Yes like I said they could still survive, but I could see why they would transfer them if it is unlikely that they would be able to enhance the SSP in a much colder habitat - so I think it could be said that temperature is a reason in that regard. Same could be said for kings, though beyond the captive temperature recommendations per AZA, I do think they are more cold-tolerant than rockhoppers because of their larger size and thicker layers of fat. More I think about it I agree they would be competing for space with Macaronis in SWF's penguin habitat, I kind of disregarded how cramped their habitat is compared to my original habitat examples (Detroit/Omaha).
 
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