Penguin Population in USA, Canada, & Mexico

Sphenisciologist

Well-Known Member
With the anticipated/supposed closure of SeaWorld San Diego’s Penguin Encounter, I felt it was a good time to make this thread. The North American Penguin population has seen lots of reshuffling in the past few decades, and I feel that the closure of this massive penguin exhibit is going to contribute to that in a greater capacity at once than it ever has, or at least the most it has in a long time.
The purpose of this thread is to monitor births, deaths, transfers, and announcements regarding animals, exhibits, and statuses of the 12 penguin species currently on exhibit in the USA, Canada, and Mexico. For updates on worldwide holdings (not estimate species counts based on facility), visit here: Catalogue of Penguins in Captivity Worldwide
LP - Largest Population. The facilities with LP next to them means that that facility has the largest population of the corresponding species.
All of the species populations are an estimate based on Studbook/SSP information with consideration of non-studbook/SSP institutions, or estimations based on published species counts taking recency into account - these do not apply if exact numbers are known (e.g. we know the exact amount of Emperor Penguins because their transfer to SeaWorld Orlando was highly publicized).
With the exception of Guadalajara, the Mexican population for the Chinstraps, Gentoos, and Humboldts is an approximation based on quick Google searches of importation events, images of the exhibit, and likelihood of species capacity.
I have also provided listings based on each state/province at the end to get a better idea of how many species and individuals are kept per region.

Aptenodytes
Taxa Notes: Both of the great penguins are pretty restricted to the facilities they’re currently kept at. Emperors likely won’t expand anywhere else in the near future unfortunately. Kings have much more potential, but most subantarctic exhibits that don’t house them aren’t well-suited in terms of substrate and space to keep them anyway. I’ll keep the holdings for kings updated for when SWSD closes their Penguin Encounter if there are any additions/changes.

Emperor Penguin Aptenodytes forsteri
16 animals - 1 Holding - 1 US State
United States
- SeaWorld Orlando: 16 animals - LP

King Penguin Aptenodytes patagonicus
~235-245 animals - 15 Holdings - 11 US States, 2 Provinces
Canada
- Biodôme de Montreal: ~5 animals
- Calgary Zoo: ~15 animals
United States
- Albuquerque BioPark: ~12 animals
- Central Park Zoo: ~6-7 animals
- Cincinnati Zoo: ~3-4 animals
- Detroit Zoo: ~20 animals
- Kansas City Zoo: ~15 animals
- Moody Gardens: ~30 animals
- Newport Aquarium: ~5 animals
- Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo: ~15 animals
- Riverbanks Zoo: ~3-4 animals
- Saint Louis Zoo: 11 animals
- SeaWorld Orlando: ~55 animals - LP
- SeaWorld San Antonio: ~35 animals
- SeaWorld San Diego: ~15 animals

Pygoscelis
Taxa Notes: All three of these species breed well at institutions with sizable populations in spacious exhibits that encourage genetic diversity. Because of this, I could see Chinstrap and Gentoo populations expanding to other facilities in the next coming years. Possibly Adélie too if other facilities with Antarctic habitats are willing to adjust their temperatures low enough.
All three of these species are also kept in great numbers at the SWSD park, so I will update this thread when information is available on if there are any additions/changes.

Adélie Penguin Pygoscelis adeliae
~120-125 animals - 3 Holdings - 2 US States, 1 Mexican State
Mexico
- Zoológico Guadalajara: ~12-15 animals
United States
- SeaWorld Orlando: ~50 animals
- SeaWorld San Diego: ~80 animals - LP, subject to change

Chinstrap Penguin Pygoscelis antarcticus
~165 animals - 10 Holdings - 6-7 States, 1 Province, 1 Mexican State
Canada
- Biodôme de Montreal: ~6 animals
Mexico
- Acuario Inbursa: I’m not sure of the exact numbers, but based on videos, it looks like they have somewhere between ~3-6 animals
United States
- Central Park Zoo: ~25 animals
- Detroit Zoo: ~10 animals
- Kansas City Zoo: ~10 animals
- Moody Gardens: ~15 animals
- Newport Aquarium: ~1-2 animals
- SeaWorld Orlando: ~20 animals
- SeaWorld San Antonio: ~50 animals - LP
- SeaWorld San Diego: ~35 animals

Gentoo Penguin Pygoscelis papua
~540-555 animals: ~195 p. p. papua, ~360 p. p. ellsworthi - 22-23 Holdings - 15 US States, 2 Provinces, 2 Mexican States
Canada
- Biodôme de Montreal: ~15 animals (ellsworthi)
- Calgary Zoo: ~15 animals (nominate)
Mexico
- Acuario Inbursa: ~15 animals (ellsworthi is the most likely subspecies based on photos and importation history but I’m not certain)
- Zoológico Guadalajara: ~15 animals (ellsworthi)
United States
- Albuquerque BioPark: ~12 animals (nominate)
- Central Park Zoo: ~20 animals (ellsworthi)
- Detroit Zoo: ~30 animals (nominate)
- Henry Vilas Zoo (planned?): (ellsworthi)
- Indianapolis Zoo: ~15 animals (ellsworthi)
- Kansas City Zoo: ~40 animals (ellsworthi)
- Loveland Living Planet Aquarium: ~20 animals (ellsworthi)
- Milwaukee County Zoo: ~8 animals (ellsworthi)
- Moody Gardens: ~25 animals (ellsworthi)
- Newport Aquarium: ~10 animals (ellsworthi)
- Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo: ~35 animals (nominate)
- Pittsburgh Zoo: ~20 animals (ellsworthi)
- Riverbanks Zoo: ~10 animals (ellsworthi) I wanna say, but I don’t have a good idea of the amount kept here
- Saint Louis Zoo: ~15 animals (ellsworthi)
- SeaWorld Orlando: ~35 animals (ellsworthi)
- SeaWorld San Antonio: ~95 animals - LP (ellsworthi)
-
SeaWorld San Diego: ~70 animals - LP (nominate), subject to change
- Tennessee Aquarium: ~15 animals (nominate)
- Wonders of Wildlife: ~17 animals (nominate)

Eudyptula
Taxa Notes: I think potential future success of this species is promising as breeding has been well at a select few facilities and the population has expanded thanks to Australian and JAZA imports. This species in particular also does well with the public, and considering their temperature requirements are similar to the Spheniscus, as well as their small size meaning less space capacity, I could see this species becoming more dominant in U.S. captivity.

Little Blue Penguin Eudyptula minor novaehollandiae
~125-135 animals - 7 Holdings - 7 US States
United States
- Adventure Aquarium: ~15 animals
- Albuquerque BioPark: Based on exhibit I’d say ~10 animals, but I really have no idea
- Birch Aquarium: ~15 animals
- Bronx Zoo: ~15 animals
- Cincinnati Zoo: ~35 animals - LP
- Dallas World Aquarium: ~30 animals
- Louisville Zoo: ~15 animals

Eudyptes
Taxa Notes: Most facilities that keep crested species keep them in mixed habitats with species of other taxa, but a few southern rockhopper holders keep them in single-species habitats. Most facilities don’t mix different crested species together; Detroit and Moody Gardens are the only facilities that currently do. Some facilities have also flip-flopped between keeping southern rockhopper or macaroni in the last few decades (notably Central Park, Newport Aquarium, and Omaha).
For Macaroni, I’ll keep their holders updated for when SWSD closes their Penguin Encounter if there are any additions/changes.

Macaroni Penguin Eudyptes chrysolophus
~200 animals - 12 Holdings - 11 US States, 1 Province
Canada
- Biodôme de Montreal: ~8 animals
United States
- Albuquerque BioPark: ~10 animals
- Central Park Zoo: ~5 animals
- Detroit Zoo: ~18-20 animals
- Kansas City Zoo: ~8 animals
- Loveland Living Planet Aquarium: 4 animals
- Moody Gardens: ~20 animals
- Newport Aquarium: ~10 animals
- Pittsburgh Zoo: ~8 animals
- SeaWorld Orlando: ~30 animals - LP
- SeaWorld San Diego: ~10 animals
- Tennessee Aquarium: ~8 animals

Southern/Western Rockhopper Penguin Eudyptes chrysocome
~300 animals - 12 Holdings - 10 US States
United States
- Cincinnati Zoo: ~10 animals
- Detroit Zoo: ~20 animals
- Fort Worth Zoo: ~20 animals
- Indianapolis Zoo: ~15 animals
- Milwaukee County Zoo: ~8-10 animals
- Moody Gardens: ~15 animals
- New England Aquarium: ~15 animals
- Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo: ~35 animals
- Riverbanks Zoo: ~20 animals
- Saint Louis Zoo: 17 animals
- SeaWorld San Antonio: ~110 animals - LP
- Shedd Aquarium: ~10 animals

Northern Rockhopper Penguin Eudyptes moseleyi
~15-20 animals - 3 Holdings - 1 US State, 2 Provinces
Canada
- Biodôme de Montreal: ~15 animals - LP
- Calgary Zoo: ~3-4 animals
United States
- Moody Gardens: ~3-4 animals

Spheniscus
Taxa Notes: For the African listings, around 14 of the holdings were taken directly from Zootierliste so feel free to correct me if some of these facilities don’t have the species anymore. However, because of their very abundant presence in captivity I double checked all holdings to the best of my ability. For the African populations most of them are an approximate based on quick searches, taking recency of population postings into account. Some facilities don’t have their numbers specified due to not being accredited and so forth, and because their numbers are so huge, they have a very large range of total animals.
The last Humboldt SSP population was updated very recently, so approximate numbers should be close to almost perfectly accurate for most USA holdings and Calgary. For this species, zoos in Central America were not considered as this subforum focuses on collections from Mexico, USA, and Canada.
Magellanics are completely AZA-restricted so those holdings and numbers were easy to get ahold of.

African Penguin Spheniscus demersus
~1,100-1,250 animals - 74 Holdings - 32 States, 2 Provinces
Canada
- Marine Life at West Edmonton Mall: ~20 animals
- Toronto Zoo: ~30 animals
United States
- Adventure Aquarium: ~50 animals
- Animal Adventure Park: ~3-5 animals, but I’m not sure
- Audubon Aquarium: ~25 animals
- Bismarck’s Dakota Zoo: ~10 animals
- Boulder Ridge Wild Animal Park: ~15 animals
- Brights Zoo: ~15 animals
- Busch Gardens Tampa Bay: ~15-20 animals
- Caldwell Zoo: ~12-15 animals
- California Academy of Sciences: ~20 animals
- Cameron Park Zoo: ~20 animals
- Cheyenne Mountain Zoo: ~15 animals
- Chittenango Wild Animal Park: ~15 animals
- Cincinnati Zoo: ~20 animals
- Columbian Park Zoo: ~10 animals
- Como Park Zoo: ~7-10 animals
- Dallas World Aquarium: ~8-10 animals
- Dallas Zoo: ~10 animals
- Denver Zoo: ~25 animals
- Emerald Coast Zoo: not sure
- Erie Zoo: ~12 animals
- Essex Turtle Back Zoo: ~30 animals
- Florida Aquarium: ~10 animals
- Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo: ~30 animals
- Georgia Aquarium: ~25-30 animals
- Greensboro Science Center: ~30 animals
- Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park: not sure
- Hemker Park Zoo: ~20 animals
- Henson Robinson Zoo: ~5-6 animals
- Honolulu Zoo: ~10 animals
- Hyatt Regency Maui Resort: ~7-8 animals
- Idaho Falls Zoo: ~6-7 animals
- Jenkinson’s Aquarium: ~20 animals
- Keystone Safari: ~10 animals
- Lehigh Valley Zoo: ~15 animals
- Lincoln Park Zoo: ~20 animals
- Little Rock Zoo: ~25 animals
- Long Island Aquarium: ~15 animals
- Louisville Zoo: ~7-10 animals
- Maryland Zoo: ~100-110 animals - LP
- Memphis Zoo: ~20 animals
- Metro Richmond Zoo: not sure
- Minnesota Zoo: ~30 animals
- Mississippi Aquarium: ~10-12 animals
- Monterey Bay Aquarium: ~15 animals
- Montgomery Zoo: ~6-7 animals
- Mystic Aquarium: ~30 animals
- National Aviary: ~20 animals
- New England Aquarium: ~40 animals
- Newport Aquarium: not sure
- New York Aquarium: ~30 animals
- NEW Zoo: not sure
- North Georgia Wildlife Park: ~4-5 animals
- OdySea Aquarium: ~30-35 animals
- Pueblo Zoo: ~3-5 animals, but I’m not sure
- Racine Zoo: ~4-7 animals
- Ripley’s Aquarium of Myrtle Beach: ~20 animals
- Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies: ~15 animals
- Roosevelt Park Zoo: not sure
- Ross Park Zoo: ~8-10 animals
- Saginaw Children’s Zoo: ~7-8 animals
- San Antonio Aquarium: ~3-6 animals, but I’m not sure
- San Diego Zoo: ~25 animals
- Seneca Park Zoo: ~30-35 animals
- Six Flag’s Discovery Kingdom: not sure
- Tanganyika Wildlife Park: ~65 animals
- Timbavati Wildlife Park: not sure
- Toledo Zoo: ~35 animals
- Tulsa Zoo: ~25 animals
- Virginia Safari Park: not sure
- Wildlife World Zoo: not sure
- Wildwood Wildlife Park: not sure
- ZooTampa: ~20 animals

Humboldt Penguin Spheniscus humboldti
~445 animals - 28 Holdings - 17 US States, 1 Province, 3 Mexican States
Canada
- Calgary Zoo: ~20 animals
Mexico
- Acuario de Veracruz: ~20-25 animals
- Parque Zoológico de Leon: ~15 animals
- Zoológico de Chapultepec: ~5-15 animals
United States
- Akron Zoo: ~16 animals
- Aquarium of Niagara: ~15 animals
- Brookfield Zoo: ~25 animals
- Columbus Zoo: ~15 animals
- Denver Zoo: ~5-10 animals
- Great Plains Zoo: ~14 animals
- Houston Zoo: ~16 animals animals
- Kansas City Zoo: ~15 animals
- Lincoln Children’s Zoo: ~14 animals
- Mesker Park Zoo: ~15 animals
- Milwaukee County Zoo: ~16 animals
- Moody Gardens: ~12 animals
- Mote Science Education Aquarium: ~13 animals
- Oregon Zoo: ~24 animals
- Philadelphia Zoo: ~20-25 animals
- Pittsburgh Zoo: ~19 animals
- Roger Williams Park Zoo: ~12 animals
- Rosamond Gifford Zoo: ~26 animals
- Saint Louis Zoo: ~22 animals
- Santa Barbara Zoo: ~16 animals
- Scovill Zoo: ~15 animals
- Sea Life Park Hawaii: ~10-15 animals
- SeaWorld San Diego: ~11 animals
- Sedgwick County Zoo: ~24 animals
- Woodland Park Zoo: ~33 animals - LP

Magellanic Penguin Spheniscus magellanicus
~305 animals - 14 Holdings - 10 States
United States
- Aquarium of the Pacific: ~15-16 animals
- Blank Park Zoo: ~9 animals
- Bronx Zoo: ~30-35 animals
- Cincinnati Zoo: ~1 animal (ambassador)
- El Paso Zoo: ~14-15 animals
- Jacksonville Zoo: ~30 animals
- John Ball Zoo: ~25-26 animals
- Point Defiance Zoo: ~20-21 animals
- Potter Park Zoo: ~11-12 animals
- San Francisco Zoo: ~50-55 animals - LP
- SeaWorld Orlando: ~25 animals
- SeaWorld San Diego: ~35-37 animals
- Shedd Aquarium: ~30 animals
- Zoo Boise: ~8 animals

Listing of Penguin Holdings Per Canadian Province:
Alberta: 5 Species (King, Gentoo, Northern Rockhopper, African, Humboldt)
- Calgary Zoo (King, Gentoo, Northern Rockhopper, Humboldt)
- Marine Life at West Edmonton Mall (African)
Ontario: 1 Species (African)
- Toronto Zoo
Quebec: 5 Species (King, Chinstrap, Gentoo, Macaroni, Northern Rockhopper)
- Biodôme de Montreal

Listing of Penguin Holdings Per Mexican State:
Guadalajara: 2 Species (Adélie, Gentoo)
- Zoológico Guadalajara
Guanajuato: 1 Species (Humboldt)
- Parque Zoológico de Leon
Mexico City: 3 Species (Chinstrap, Gentoo, Humboldt)
- Acuario Inbursa (Chinstrap, Gentoo)
- Zoológico de Chapultepec (Humboldt)
Veracruz: 1 Species (Humboldt)
- Acuario de Veracruz

Listing of Penguin Holdings Per US State:
Alaska: no species.
Alabama: 1 Species (African)
- Montgomery Zoo
Arkansas: 1 Species (African)
- Little Rock Zoo
Arizona: 1 Species (African)
- OdySea Aquarium
- Wildlife World Zoo
California: 4-8 Species (King, Adélie, Chinstrap, Gentoo, Little Blue, Macaroni, African, Humboldt, Magellanic)
- Aquarium of the Pacific (Magellanic)
- Birch Aquarium (Little Blue)
- California Academy of Sciences (African)
- Monterey Bay Aquarium (African)
- San Diego Zoo (African)
- San Francisco Zoo (Magellanic)
- Santa Barbara Zoo (Humboldt)
- SeaWorld San Diego: 5 species possibly set to leave in/by November (King, Adélie, Chinstrap, Gentoo, Macaroni) and 2 species on exhibit/staying (Humboldt, Magellanic).
- Six Flags Discovery Kingdom (African)
Colorado: 2 Species (African, Humboldt)
- Cheyenne Mountain Zoo (African)
- Denver Zoo (African, Humboldt)
- Pueblo Zoo (African)
Connecticut: 1 Species (African)
- Mystic Aquarium
Delaware: no species.
Florida: 9 Species (Emperor, King, Adélie, Chinstrap, Gentoo, Macaroni, African, Humboldt, Magellanic)
- Busch Gardens Tampa Bay (African)
- Emerald Coast Zoo (African)
- Florida Aquarium (African)
- Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park (African)
- Jacksonville Zoo (Magellanic)
- Mote Science Education Aquarium (Humboldt)
- SeaWorld Orlando (Emperor, King, Adélie, Chinstrap, Gentoo, Macaroni, Magellanic)
- ZooTampa (African)
Georgia: 1 Species (African)
- Georgia Aquarium
- North Georgia Wildlife Park
Hawai’i: 2 Species (African, Humboldt)
- Honolulu Zoo (African)
- Hyatt Regency Maui Resort (African)
- Sea Life Park Hawaii (Humboldt)
Idaho: 2 Species (African, Magellanic)
- Idaho Falls Zoo (African)
- Zoo Boise (Magellanic)
Illinois: 4 Species (Southern Rockhopper, African, Humboldt, Magellanic)
- Brookfield Zoo (Humboldt)
- Henson Robinson Zoo (African)
- Lincoln Park Zoo (African)
- Scovill Zoo (Humboldt)
- Shedd Aquarium (Southern Rockhopper, Magellanic)
Indiana: 4 Species (Gentoo, Southern Rockhopper, African, Humboldt)
- Columbian Park Zoo (African)
- Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo (African)
- Indianapolis Zoo (Gentoo, Southern Rockhopper)
Mesker Park Zoo (Humboldt)
Iowa: 1 Species (Magellanic)
- Blank Park Zoo
Kansas: 2 Species (African, Humboldt)
- Sedgwick County Zoo (Humboldt)
- Tanganyika Wildlife Park (African)
Kentucky: 6 Species (King, Chinstrap, Gentoo, Little Blue, Macaroni, African)
- Louisville Zoo (Little Blue, African)
- Newport Aquarium (King, Chinstrap, Gentoo, Macaroni, African)
Louisiana: 1 Species (African)
- Audubon Aquarium (African)
Maine: no species.
Maryland: 1 Species (African)
- Maryland Zoo
Massachusetts: 2 Species (Southern Rockhopper, African)
- New England Aquarium
Michigan: 7 Species (King, Chinstrap, Gentoo, Macaroni, Southern Rockhopper, African, Magellanic)
- Boulder Ridge Wild Animal Park (African)
- Detroit Zoo (King, Chinstrap, Gentoo, Macaroni, Southern Rockhopper)
- John Ball Zoo (Magellanic)
- Potter Park Zoo (Magellanic)
- Saginaw Children’s Zoo (African)
Minnesota: 1 Species (African)
- Como Park Zoo
- Hemker Park Zoo
- Minnesota Zoo
Mississippi: 1 Species (African)
- Mississippi Aquarium
Missouri: 6 Species (King, Chinstrap, Gentoo, Macaroni, Southern Rockhopper, Humboldt)
- Kansas City Zoo (King, Chinstrap, Gentoo, Macaroni, Humboldt)
- Saint Louis Zoo (King, Gentoo, Southern Rockhopper, Humboldt)
- Wonders of Wildlife (Gentoo)
Montana: no species.
Nebraska: 4 Species (King, Gentoo, Southern Rockhopper, Humboldt)
- Lincoln Children’s Zoo (Humboldt)
- Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo (King, Gentoo, Southern Rockhopper)
Nevada: no species.
New Hampshire: no species.
New Jersey: 2 Species (Little Blue, African)
- Adventure Aquarium (Little Blue, African)
- Essex Turtle Back Zoo (African)
- Jenkinson’s Aquarium (African)
New Mexico: 4 Species (King, Gentoo, Little Blue, Macaroni)
- Albuquerque BioPark
New York: 8 Species (King, Chinstrap, Gentoo, Little Blue, Macaroni, African, Humboldt, Magellanic)
- Animal Adventure Park (African)
- Aquarium of Niagara (Humboldt)
- Bronx Zoo (Little Blue, Magellanic)
- Central Park Zoo (King, Chinstrap, Gentoo, Macaroni)
- Chittenango Wild Animal Park (African)
- Long Island Aquarium (African)
- New York Aquarium (African)
- Rosamond Gifford Zoo (Humboldt)
- Ross Park Zoo (African)
- Seneca Park Zoo (African)
North Carolina: 1 Species (African)
- Greensboro Science Center
North Dakota: 1 Species (African)
- Bismarck’s Dakota Zoo
- Roosevelt Park Zoo
Ohio: 6 Species (King, Little Blue, Southern Rockhopper, African, Humboldt, Magellanic)
- Akron Zoo (Humboldt)
- Cincinnati Zoo (King, Little Blue, Southern Rockhopper, African, Magellanic)
- Columbus Zoo (Humboldt)
- Toledo Zoo (African)
Oklahoma: 1 Species (African)
- Tulsa Zoo
Oregon: 1 Species (Humboldt)
- Oregon Zoo
Pennsylvania: 4 Species (Gentoo, Macaroni, African, Humboldt)
- Erie Zoo (African)
- Keystone Safari (African)
- Lehigh Valley Zoo (African)
- National Aviary (African)
- Pittsburgh Zoo (Gentoo, Macaroni, Humboldt)
- Philadelphia Zoo (Humboldt)
Rhode Island: 1 Species (Humboldt)
- Roger Williams Park Zoo
South Carolina: 4 Species (King, Gentoo, Southern Rockhopper, African)
- Ripley’s Aquarium of Myrtle Beach (African)
- Riverbanks Zoo (King, Gentoo, Southern Rockhopper)
South Dakota: 1 Species (Humboldt)
- Great Plains Zoo
Tennessee: 3 Species (Gentoo, Macaroni, African)
- Brights Zoo (African)
- Memphis Zoo (African)
- Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies (African)
- Tennessee Aquarium (Gentoo, Macaroni)
Texas: 10 Species (King, Chinstrap, Gentoo, Little Blue, Macaroni, Southern Rockhopper, Northern Rockhopper, African, Humboldt, Magellanic)
- Caldwell Zoo (African)
- Cameron Park Zoo (African)
- Dallas World Aquarium (Little Blue, African)
- Dallas Zoo (African)
- El Paso Zoo (Magellanic)
- Fort Worth Zoo (Southern Rockhopper, African)
- Houston Zoo (Humboldt)
- Moody Gardens (King, Chinstrap, Gentoo, Macaroni, Southern Rockhopper, Northern Rockhopper, Humboldt)
- San Antonio Aquarium (African)
- SeaWorld San Antonio (King, Chinstrap, Gentoo, Southern Rockhopper)
Utah: 2 Species (Gentoo, Macaroni)
- Loveland Living Planet Aquarium
Vermont: no species.
Virginia: 1 Species (African)
- Metro Richmond Zoo
- Virginia Safari Park
Washington: 2 Species (Humboldt, Magellanic)
- Point Defiance Zoo (Magellanic)
- Woodland Park Zoo (Humboldt)
West Virginia: no species.
Wisconsin: 4 Species (Gentoo, Southern Rockhopper, African, Humboldt)
- Henry Vilas Zoo (Gentoos soon?)
- Milwaukee County Zoo (Gentoo, Southern Rockhopper, Humboldt)
- NEW Zoo (African)
- Racine Zoo (African)
- Timbavati Wildlife Park (African)
- Wildwood Wildlife Park (African)
Wyoming: no species.
 
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Thanks for putting this list together!

Just a few corrections to start out but will take a look at the full list later (Have only looked in depth at these species so far).

King Penguin - USA
Albuquerque BioPark: 11
Cincinnati Zoo: 3
Detroit Zoo: 19
Kansas City Zoo: 18
Newport Aquarium: 4
Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo: 13
Riverbanks Zoo: 4
SeaWorld Orlando: 52
SeaWorld San Antonio: 32
SeaWorld San Diego: 20

Adelie Penguin - USA
Seaworld San Diego - 70
SeaWorld Orlando - 53

Chinstrap Penguin - USA
Detroit Zoo: 12
Kansas City Zoo: 3
Newport Aquarium: 1
SeaWorld Orlando: 18
SeaWorld San Antonio: 63
SeaWorld San Diego: 45

Little Blue Penguin - USA
Adventure Aquarium: 20
Albuquerque BioPark: 7
Birch Aquarium: 17
Bronx Zoo: 14
Cincinnati Zoo: 37
Dallas World Aquarium: 32
Louisville Zoo: 16

Also just a heads up your gentoo subspecies per holder are a little off will post a more correct list later and the New England Aquarium is another holder of Northern Rockhopper (They have both Northern and Western).
 
Thanks for putting this list together!

Just a few corrections to start out but will take a look at the full list later (Have only looked in depth at these species so far).

King Penguin - USA
Albuquerque BioPark: 11
Cincinnati Zoo: 3
Detroit Zoo: 19
Kansas City Zoo: 18
Newport Aquarium: 4
Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo: 13
Riverbanks Zoo: 4
SeaWorld Orlando: 52
SeaWorld San Antonio: 32
SeaWorld San Diego: 20

Adelie Penguin - USA
Seaworld San Diego - 70
SeaWorld Orlando - 53

Chinstrap Penguin - USA
Detroit Zoo: 12
Kansas City Zoo: 3
Newport Aquarium: 1
SeaWorld Orlando: 18
SeaWorld San Antonio: 63
SeaWorld San Diego: 45

Little Blue Penguin - USA
Adventure Aquarium: 20
Albuquerque BioPark: 7
Birch Aquarium: 17
Bronx Zoo: 14
Cincinnati Zoo: 37
Dallas World Aquarium: 32
Louisville Zoo: 16
Thanks for your comments. Because the penguin populations change so frequently and deaths are often not publicized I kept most of the holdings approximate, so I’ll take your post in consideration when editing approximations.
Kansas City received 3.3 Chinstraps from SeaWorld San Antonio in addition to the 3 already kept.

Also just a heads up your gentoo subspecies per holder are a little off will post a more correct list later and the New England Aquarium is another holder of Northern Rockhopper (They have both Northern and Western).
Where have you heard NEA keeps Northern? The last report they had both was in 2010 and the population of the species has decreased significantly since then due to unsuccessful breeding, and Moody Gardens is now the only USA holding. Both their studbook and the NEA website only lists them keeping Western, and I don’t see any Northerns in any recent photos.
 
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With the anticipated/supposed closure of SeaWorld San Diego’s Penguin Encounter, I felt it was a good time to make this thread. The North American Penguin population has seen lots of reshuffling in the past few decades, and I feel that the closure of this massive penguin exhibit is going to contribute to that in a greater capacity at once than it ever has, or at least the most it has in a long time.
The purpose of this thread is to monitor births, deaths, transfers, and announcements regarding animals, exhibits, and statuses of the 12 penguin species currently on exhibit in the USA, Canada, and Mexico. For updates on worldwide holdings (not estimate species counts based on facility), visit here: Catalogue of Penguins in Captivity Worldwide
LP - Largest Population. The facilities with LP next to them means that that facility has the largest population of the corresponding species.
All of the species populations are an estimate based on Studbook/SSP information with consideration of non-studbook/SSP institutions, or estimations based on published species counts taking recency into account - these do not apply if exact numbers are known (e.g. we know the exact amount of Emperor Penguins because their transfer to SeaWorld Orlando was highly publicized).
With the exception of Guadalajara, the Mexican population for the Chinstraps, Gentoos, and Humboldts is an approximation based on quick Google searches of importation events, images of the exhibit, and likelihood of species capacity.
I have also provided listings based on each state/province at the end to get a better idea of how many species and individuals are kept per region.

Aptenodytes
Taxa Notes: Both of the great penguins are pretty restricted to the facilities they’re currently kept at. Emperors likely won’t expand anywhere else in the near future unfortunately. Kings have much more potential, but most subantarctic exhibits that don’t house them aren’t well-suited in terms of substrate and space to keep them anyway. I’ll keep the holdings for kings updated for when SWSD closes their Penguin Encounter if there are any additions/changes.

Emperor Penguin Aptenodytes forsteri
16 animals - 1 Holding - 1 US State
United States
- SeaWorld Orlando: 16 animals - LP

King Penguin Aptenodytes patagonicus
~235-245 animals - 15 Holdings - 11 US States, 2 Provinces
Canada
- Biodôme de Montreal: ~5 animals
- Calgary Zoo: ~15 animals
United States
- Albuquerque BioPark: ~12 animals
- Central Park Zoo: ~6-7 animals
- Cincinnati Zoo: ~3-4 animals
- Detroit Zoo: ~20 animals
- Kansas City Zoo: ~15 animals
- Moody Gardens: ~30 animals
- Newport Aquarium: ~5 animals
- Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo: ~15 animals
- Riverbanks Zoo: ~3-4 animals
- Saint Louis Zoo: 11 animals
- SeaWorld Orlando: ~55 animals - LP
- SeaWorld San Antonio: ~35 animals
- SeaWorld San Diego: ~15 animals

Pygoscelis
Taxa Notes: All three of these species breed well at institutions with sizable populations in spacious exhibits that encourage genetic diversity. Because of this, I could see Chinstrap and Gentoo populations expanding to other facilities in the next coming years. Possibly Adélie too if other facilities with Antarctic habitats are willing to adjust their temperatures low enough.
All three of these species are also kept in great numbers at the SWSD park, so I will update this thread when information is available on if there are any additions/changes.

Adélie Penguin Pygoscelis adeliae
~120-125 animals - 3 Holdings - 2 US States, 1 Mexican State
Mexico
- Zoológico Guadalajara: ~12-15 animals
United States
- SeaWorld Orlando: ~50 animals
- SeaWorld San Diego: ~80 animals - LP, subject to change

Chinstrap Penguin Pygoscelis antarcticus
~165 animals - 10 Holdings - 6-7 States, 1 Province, 1 Mexican State
Canada
- Biodôme de Montreal: ~6 animals
Mexico
- Acuario Inbursa: I’m not sure of the exact numbers, but based on videos, it looks like they have somewhere between ~3-6 animals
United States
- Central Park Zoo: ~25 animals
- Detroit Zoo: ~10 animals
- Kansas City Zoo: ~10 animals
- Moody Gardens: ~15 animals
- Newport Aquarium: ~1-2 animals
- SeaWorld Orlando: ~20 animals
- SeaWorld San Antonio: ~50 animals - LP
- SeaWorld San Diego: ~35 animals

Gentoo Penguin Pygoscelis papua
~540-555 animals: ~195 p. p. papua, ~360 p. p. ellsworthi - 22-23 Holdings - 15 US States, 2 Provinces, 2 Mexican States
Canada
- Biodôme de Montreal: ~15 animals (ellsworthi)
- Calgary Zoo: ~15 animals (nominate)
Mexico
- Acuario Inbursa: ~15 animals (ellsworthi is the most likely subspecies based on photos and importation history but I’m not certain)
- Zoológico Guadalajara: ~15 animals (ellsworthi)
United States
- Albuquerque BioPark: ~12 animals (nominate)
- Central Park Zoo: ~20 animals (ellsworthi)
- Detroit Zoo: ~30 animals (nominate)
- Henry Vilas Zoo (planned?): (ellsworthi)
- Indianapolis Zoo: ~15 animals (ellsworthi)
- Kansas City Zoo: ~40 animals (ellsworthi)
- Loveland Living Planet Aquarium: ~20 animals (ellsworthi)
- Milwaukee County Zoo: ~8 animals (ellsworthi)
- Moody Gardens: ~25 animals (ellsworthi)
- Newport Aquarium: ~10 animals (ellsworthi)
- Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo: ~35 animals (nominate)
- Pittsburgh Zoo: ~20 animals (ellsworthi)
- Riverbanks Zoo: ~10 animals (ellsworthi) I wanna say, but I don’t have a good idea of the amount kept here
- Saint Louis Zoo: ~15 animals (ellsworthi)
- SeaWorld Orlando: ~35 animals (ellsworthi)
- SeaWorld San Antonio: ~95 animals - LP (ellsworthi)
-
SeaWorld San Diego: ~70 animals - LP (nominate), subject to change
- Tennessee Aquarium: ~15 animals (nominate)
- Wonders of Wildlife: ~17 animals (nominate)

Eudyptula
Taxa Notes: I think potential future success of this species is promising as breeding has been well at a select few facilities and the population has expanded thanks to Australian and JAZA imports. This species in particular also does well with the public, and considering their temperature requirements are similar to the Spheniscus, as well as their small size meaning less space capacity, I could see this species becoming more dominant in U.S. captivity.

Little Blue Penguin Eudyptula minor novaehollandiae
~125-135 animals - 7 Holdings - 7 US States
United States
- Adventure Aquarium: ~15 animals
- Albuquerque BioPark: Based on exhibit I’d say ~10 animals, but I really have no idea
- Birch Aquarium: ~15 animals
- Bronx Zoo: ~15 animals
- Cincinnati Zoo: ~35 animals - LP
- Dallas World Aquarium: ~30 animals
- Louisville Zoo: ~15 animals

Eudyptes
Taxa Notes: Most facilities that keep crested species keep them in mixed habitats with species of other taxa, but a few southern rockhopper holders keep them in single-species habitats. Most facilities don’t mix different crested species together; Detroit and Moody Gardens are the only facilities that currently do. Some facilities have also flip-flopped between keeping southern rockhopper or macaroni in the last few decades (notably Central Park, Newport Aquarium, and Omaha).
For Macaroni, I’ll keep their holders updated for when SWSD closes their Penguin Encounter if there are any additions/changes.

Macaroni Penguin Eudyptes chrysolophus
~200 animals - 12 Holdings - 11 US States, 1 Province
Canada
- Biodôme de Montreal: ~8 animals
United States
- Albuquerque BioPark: ~10 animals
- Central Park Zoo: ~5 animals
- Detroit Zoo: ~18-20 animals
- Kansas City Zoo: ~8 animals
- Loveland Living Planet Aquarium: 4 animals
- Moody Gardens: ~20 animals
- Newport Aquarium: ~10 animals
- Pittsburgh Zoo: ~8 animals
- SeaWorld Orlando: ~30 animals - LP
- SeaWorld San Diego: ~10 animals
- Tennessee Aquarium: ~8 animals

Southern/Western Rockhopper Penguin Eudyptes chrysocome
~300 animals - 12 Holdings - 10 US States
United States
- Cincinnati Zoo: ~10 animals
- Detroit Zoo: ~20 animals
- Fort Worth Zoo: ~20 animals
- Indianapolis Zoo: ~15 animals
- Milwaukee County Zoo: ~8-10 animals
- Moody Gardens: ~15 animals
- New England Aquarium: ~15 animals
- Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo: ~35 animals
- Riverbanks Zoo: ~20 animals
- Saint Louis Zoo: 17 animals
- SeaWorld San Antonio: ~110 animals - LP
- Shedd Aquarium: ~10 animals

Northern Rockhopper Penguin Eudyptes moseleyi
~15-20 animals - 3 Holdings - 1 US State, 2 Provinces
Canada
- Biodôme de Montreal: ~15 animals - LP
- Calgary Zoo: ~3-4 animals
United States
- Moody Gardens: ~3-4 animals

Spheniscus
Taxa Notes: For the African listings, around 14 of the holdings were taken directly from Zootierliste so feel free to correct me if some of these facilities don’t have the species anymore. However, because of their very abundant presence in captivity I double checked all holdings to the best of my ability. For the African populations most of them are an approximate based on quick searches, taking recency of population postings into account. Some facilities don’t have their numbers specified due to not being accredited and so forth, and because their numbers are so huge, they have a very large range of total animals.
The last Humboldt SSP population was updated very recently, so approximate numbers should be close to almost perfectly accurate for most USA holdings and Calgary. For this species, zoos in Central America were not considered as this subforum focuses on collections from Mexico, USA, and Canada.
Magellanics are completely AZA-restricted so those holdings and numbers were easy to get ahold of.

African Penguin Spheniscus demersus
~1,100-1,250 animals - 74 Holdings - 32 States, 2 Provinces
Canada
- Marine Life at West Edmonton Mall: ~20 animals
- Toronto Zoo: ~30 animals
United States
- Adventure Aquarium: ~50 animals
- Animal Adventure Park: ~3-5 animals, but I’m not sure
- Audubon Aquarium: ~25 animals
- Bismarck’s Dakota Zoo: ~10 animals
- Boulder Ridge Wild Animal Park: ~15 animals
- Brights Zoo: ~15 animals
- Busch Gardens Tampa Bay: ~15-20 animals
- Caldwell Zoo: ~12-15 animals
- California Academy of Sciences: ~20 animals
- Cameron Park Zoo: ~20 animals
- Cheyenne Mountain Zoo: ~15 animals
- Chittenango Wild Animal Park: ~15 animals
- Cincinnati Zoo: ~20 animals
- Columbian Park Zoo: ~10 animals
- Como Park Zoo: ~7-10 animals
- Dallas World Aquarium: ~8-10 animals
- Dallas Zoo: ~10 animals
- Denver Zoo: ~25 animals
- Emerald Coast Zoo: not sure
- Erie Zoo: ~12 animals
- Essex Turtle Back Zoo: ~30 animals
- Florida Aquarium: ~10 animals
- Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo: ~30 animals
- Georgia Aquarium: ~25-30 animals
- Greensboro Science Center: ~30 animals
- Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park: not sure
- Hemker Park Zoo: ~20 animals
- Henson Robinson Zoo: ~5-6 animals
- Honolulu Zoo: ~10 animals
- Hyatt Regency Maui Resort: ~7-8 animals
- Idaho Falls Zoo: ~6-7 animals
- Jenkinson’s Aquarium: ~20 animals
- Keystone Safari: ~10 animals
- Lehigh Valley Zoo: ~15 animals
- Lincoln Park Zoo: ~20 animals
- Little Rock Zoo: ~25 animals
- Long Island Aquarium: ~15 animals
- Louisville Zoo: ~7-10 animals
- Maryland Zoo: ~100-110 animals - LP
- Memphis Zoo: ~20 animals
- Metro Richmond Zoo: not sure
- Minnesota Zoo: ~30 animals
- Mississippi Aquarium: ~10-12 animals
- Monterey Bay Aquarium: ~15 animals
- Montgomery Zoo: ~6-7 animals
- Mystic Aquarium: ~30 animals
- National Aviary: ~20 animals
- New England Aquarium: ~40 animals
- Newport Aquarium: not sure
- New York Aquarium: ~30 animals
- NEW Zoo: not sure
- North Georgia Wildlife Park: ~4-5 animals
- OdySea Aquarium: ~30-35 animals
- Pueblo Zoo: ~3-5 animals, but I’m not sure
- Racine Zoo: ~4-7 animals
- Ripley’s Aquarium of Myrtle Beach: ~20 animals
- Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies: ~15 animals
- Roosevelt Park Zoo: not sure
- Ross Park Zoo: ~8-10 animals
- Saginaw Children’s Zoo: ~7-8 animals
- San Antonio Aquarium: ~3-6 animals, but I’m not sure
- San Diego Zoo: ~25 animals
- Seneca Park Zoo: ~30-35 animals
- Six Flag’s Discovery Kingdom: not sure
- Tanganyika Wildlife Park: ~65 animals
- Timbavati Wildlife Park: not sure
- Toledo Zoo: ~35 animals
- Tulsa Zoo: ~25 animals
- Virginia Safari Park: not sure
- Wildlife World Zoo: not sure
- Wildwood Wildlife Park: not sure
- ZooTampa: ~20 animals

Humboldt Penguin Spheniscus humboldti
~445 animals - 28 Holdings - 17 US States, 1 Province, 3 Mexican States
Canada
- Calgary Zoo: ~20 animals
Mexico
- Acuario de Veracruz: ~20-25 animals
- Parque Zoológico de Leon: ~15 animals
- Zoológico de Chapultepec: ~5-15 animals
United States
- Akron Zoo: ~16 animals
- Aquarium of Niagara: ~15 animals
- Brookfield Zoo: ~25 animals
- Columbus Zoo: ~15 animals
- Denver Zoo: ~5-10 animals
- Great Plains Zoo: ~14 animals
- Houston Zoo: ~16 animals animals
- Kansas City Zoo: ~15 animals
- Lincoln Children’s Zoo: ~14 animals
- Mesker Park Zoo: ~15 animals
- Milwaukee County Zoo: ~16 animals
- Moody Gardens: ~12 animals
- Mote Science Education Aquarium: ~13 animals
- Oregon Zoo: ~24 animals
- Philadelphia Zoo: ~20-25 animals
- Pittsburgh Zoo: ~19 animals
- Roger Williams Park Zoo: ~12 animals
- Rosamond Gifford Zoo: ~26 animals
- Saint Louis Zoo: ~22 animals
- Santa Barbara Zoo: ~16 animals
- Scovill Zoo: ~15 animals
- Sea Life Park Hawaii: ~10-15 animals
- SeaWorld San Diego: ~11 animals
- Sedgwick County Zoo: ~24 animals
- Woodland Park Zoo: ~33 animals - LP

Magellanic Penguin Spheniscus magellanicus
~305 animals - 14 Holdings - 10 States
United States
- Aquarium of the Pacific: ~15-16 animals
- Blank Park Zoo: ~9 animals
- Bronx Zoo: ~30-35 animals
- Cincinnati Zoo: ~1 animal (ambassador)
- El Paso Zoo: ~14-15 animals
- Jacksonville Zoo: ~30 animals
- John Ball Zoo: ~25-26 animals
- Point Defiance Zoo: ~20-21 animals
- Potter Park Zoo: ~11-12 animals
- San Francisco Zoo: ~50-55 animals - LP
- SeaWorld Orlando: ~25 animals
- SeaWorld San Diego: ~35-37 animals
- Shedd Aquarium: ~30 animals
- Zoo Boise: ~8 animals

Listing of Penguin Holdings Per Canadian Province:
Alberta: 5 Species (King, Gentoo, Northern Rockhopper, African, Humboldt)
- Calgary Zoo (King, Gentoo, Northern Rockhopper, Humboldt)
- Marine Life at West Edmonton Mall (African)
Ontario: 1 Species (African)
- Toronto Zoo
Quebec: 5 Species (King, Chinstrap, Gentoo, Macaroni, Northern Rockhopper)
- Biodôme de Montreal

Listing of Penguin Holdings Per Mexican State:
Guadalajara: 2 Species (Adélie, Gentoo)
- Zoológico Guadalajara
Guanajuato: 1 Species (Humboldt)
- Parque Zoológico de Leon
Mexico City: 3 Species (Chinstrap, Gentoo, Humboldt)
- Acuario Inbursa (Chinstrap, Gentoo)
- Zoológico de Chapultepec (Humboldt)
Veracruz: 1 Species (Humboldt)
- Acuario de Veracruz

Listing of Penguin Holdings Per US State:
Alaska: no species.
Alabama: 1 Species (African)
- Montgomery Zoo
Arkansas: 1 Species (African)
- Little Rock Zoo
Arizona: 1 Species (African)
- OdySea Aquarium
- Wildlife World Zoo
California: 4-8 Species (King, Adélie, Chinstrap, Gentoo, Little Blue, Macaroni, African, Humboldt, Magellanic)
- Aquarium of the Pacific (Magellanic)
- Birch Aquarium (Little Blue)
- California Academy of Sciences (African)
- Monterey Bay Aquarium (African)
- San Diego Zoo (African)
- San Francisco Zoo (Magellanic)
- Santa Barbara Zoo (Humboldt)
- SeaWorld San Diego: 5 species possibly set to leave in/by November (King, Adélie, Chinstrap, Gentoo, Macaroni) and 2 species on exhibit/staying (Humboldt, Magellanic).
- Six Flags Discovery Kingdom (African)
Colorado: 2 Species (African, Humboldt)
- Cheyenne Mountain Zoo (African)
- Denver Zoo (African, Humboldt)
- Pueblo Zoo (African)
Connecticut: 1 Species (African)
- Mystic Aquarium
Delaware: no species.
Florida: 9 Species (Emperor, King, Adélie, Chinstrap, Gentoo, Macaroni, African, Humboldt, Magellanic)
- Busch Gardens Tampa Bay (African)
- Emerald Coast Zoo (African)
- Florida Aquarium (African)
- Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park (African)
- Jacksonville Zoo (Magellanic)
- Mote Science Education Aquarium (Humboldt)
- SeaWorld Orlando (Emperor, King, Adélie, Chinstrap, Gentoo, Macaroni, Magellanic)
- ZooTampa (African)
Georgia: 1 Species (African)
- Georgia Aquarium
- North Georgia Wildlife Park
Hawai’i: 2 Species (African, Humboldt)
- Honolulu Zoo (African)
- Hyatt Regency Maui Resort (African)
- Sea Life Park Hawaii (Humboldt)
Idaho: 2 Species (African, Magellanic)
- Idaho Falls Zoo (African)
- Zoo Boise (Magellanic)
Illinois: 4 Species (Southern Rockhopper, African, Humboldt, Magellanic)
- Brookfield Zoo (Humboldt)
- Henson Robinson Zoo (African)
- Lincoln Park Zoo (African)
- Scovill Zoo (Humboldt)
- Shedd Aquarium (Southern Rockhopper, Magellanic)
Indiana: 4 Species (Gentoo, Southern Rockhopper, African, Humboldt)
- Columbian Park Zoo (African)
- Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo (African)
- Indianapolis Zoo (Gentoo, Southern Rockhopper)
Mesker Park Zoo (Humboldt)
Iowa: 1 Species (Magellanic)
- Blank Park Zoo
Kansas: 2 Species (African, Humboldt)
- Sedgwick County Zoo (Humboldt)
- Tanganyika Wildlife Park (African)
Kentucky: 6 Species (King, Chinstrap, Gentoo, Little Blue, Macaroni, African)
- Louisville Zoo (Little Blue, African)
- Newport Aquarium (King, Chinstrap, Gentoo, Macaroni, African)
Louisiana: 1 Species (African)
- Audubon Aquarium (African)
Maine: no species.
Maryland: 1 Species (African)
- Maryland Zoo
Massachusetts: 2 Species (Southern Rockhopper, African)
- New England Aquarium
Michigan: 7 Species (King, Chinstrap, Gentoo, Macaroni, Southern Rockhopper, African, Magellanic)
- Boulder Ridge Wild Animal Park (African)
- Detroit Zoo (King, Chinstrap, Gentoo, Macaroni, Southern Rockhopper)
- John Ball Zoo (Magellanic)
- Potter Park Zoo (Magellanic)
- Saginaw Children’s Zoo (African)
Minnesota: 1 Species (African)
- Como Park Zoo
- Hemker Park Zoo
- Minnesota Zoo
Mississippi: 1 Species (African)
- Mississippi Aquarium
Missouri: 6 Species (King, Chinstrap, Gentoo, Macaroni, Southern Rockhopper, Humboldt)
- Kansas City Zoo (King, Chinstrap, Gentoo, Macaroni, Humboldt)
- Saint Louis Zoo (King, Gentoo, Southern Rockhopper, Humboldt)
- Wonders of Wildlife (Gentoo)
Montana: no species.
Nebraska: 4 Species (King, Gentoo, Southern Rockhopper, Humboldt)
- Lincoln Children’s Zoo (Humboldt)
- Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo (King, Gentoo, Southern Rockhopper)
Nevada: no species.
New Hampshire: no species.
New Jersey: 2 Species (Little Blue, African)
- Adventure Aquarium (Little Blue, African)
- Essex Turtle Back Zoo (African)
- Jenkinson’s Aquarium (African)
New Mexico: 4 Species (King, Gentoo, Little Blue, Macaroni)
- Albuquerque BioPark
New York: 8 Species (King, Chinstrap, Gentoo, Little Blue, Macaroni, African, Humboldt, Magellanic)
- Animal Adventure Park (African)
- Aquarium of Niagara (Humboldt)
- Bronx Zoo (Little Blue, Magellanic)
- Central Park Zoo (King, Chinstrap, Gentoo, Macaroni)
- Chittenango Wild Animal Park (African)
- Long Island Aquarium (African)
- New York Aquarium (African)
- Rosamond Gifford Zoo (Humboldt)
- Ross Park Zoo (African)
- Seneca Park Zoo (African)
North Carolina: 1 Species (African)
- Greensboro Science Center
North Dakota: 1 Species (African)
- Bismarck’s Dakota Zoo
- Roosevelt Park Zoo
Ohio: 6 Species (King, Little Blue, Southern Rockhopper, African, Humboldt, Magellanic)
- Akron Zoo (Humboldt)
- Cincinnati Zoo (King, Little Blue, Southern Rockhopper, African, Magellanic)
- Columbus Zoo (Humboldt)
- Toledo Zoo (African)
Oklahoma: 1 Species (African)
- Tulsa Zoo
Oregon: 1 Species (Humboldt)
- Oregon Zoo
Pennsylvania: 4 Species (Gentoo, Macaroni, African, Humboldt)
- Erie Zoo (African)
- Keystone Safari (African)
- Lehigh Valley Zoo (African)
- National Aviary (African)
- Pittsburgh Zoo (Gentoo, Macaroni, Humboldt)
- Philadelphia Zoo (Humboldt)
Rhode Island: 1 Species (Humboldt)
- Roger Williams Park Zoo
South Carolina: 4 Species (King, Gentoo, Southern Rockhopper, African)
- Ripley’s Aquarium of Myrtle Beach (African)
- Riverbanks Zoo (King, Gentoo, Southern Rockhopper)
South Dakota: 1 Species (Humboldt)
- Great Plains Zoo
Tennessee: 3 Species (Gentoo, Macaroni, African)
- Brights Zoo (African)
- Memphis Zoo (African)
- Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies (African)
- Tennessee Aquarium (Gentoo, Macaroni)
Texas: 10 Species (King, Chinstrap, Gentoo, Little Blue, Macaroni, Southern Rockhopper, Northern Rockhopper, African, Humboldt, Magellanic)
- Caldwell Zoo (African)
- Cameron Park Zoo (African)
- Dallas World Aquarium (Little Blue, African)
- Dallas Zoo (African)
- El Paso Zoo (Magellanic)
- Fort Worth Zoo (Southern Rockhopper, African)
- Houston Zoo (Humboldt)
- Moody Gardens (King, Chinstrap, Gentoo, Macaroni, Southern Rockhopper, Northern Rockhopper, Humboldt)
- San Antonio Aquarium (African)
- SeaWorld San Antonio (King, Chinstrap, Gentoo, Southern Rockhopper)
Utah: 2 Species (Gentoo, Macaroni)
- Loveland Living Planet Aquarium
Vermont: no species.
Virginia: 1 Species (African)
- Metro Richmond Zoo
- Virginia Safari Park
Washington: 2 Species (Humboldt, Magellanic)
- Point Defiance Zoo (Magellanic)
- Woodland Park Zoo (Humboldt)
West Virginia: no species.
Wisconsin: 4 Species (Gentoo, Southern Rockhopper, African, Humboldt)
- Henry Vilas Zoo (Gentoos soon?)
- Milwaukee County Zoo (Gentoo, Southern Rockhopper, Humboldt)
- NEW Zoo (African)
- Racine Zoo (African)
- Timbavati Wildlife Park (African)
- Wildwood Wildlife Park (African)
Wyoming: no species.
I knew African was the most abundant species of penguin in captivity, but I would not have guessed their total number of holders was so much greater than either of the other Spheniscus species! Or that holders of Humboldt outnumbered those of Magellanic by 2:1 (granted, I do live in Michigan where there are two facilities with Magellanic and none with Humboldt).
 
I knew African was the most abundant species of penguin in captivity, but I would not have guessed their total number of holders was so much greater than either of the other Spheniscus species! Or that holders of Humboldt outnumbered those of Magellanic by 2:1 (granted, I do live in Michigan where there are two facilities with Magellanic and none with Humboldt).
The Penguin TAG has placed a huge emphasis on African Penguins due to their wild status. Humboldt Penguins need to be kept in average-sized colonies due to how prone they are to various diseases, even relative to the other Spheniscus, which explains their abundance in facilities but not as great of abundance in numbers. Magellanics are more of a toss-up: they’re the least threatened of the three and generally do good in well-maintained colonies so there’s not as much of a need to expand the population.
 
With the anticipated/supposed closure of SeaWorld San Diego’s Penguin Encounter, I felt it was a good time to make this thread. The North American Penguin population has seen lots of reshuffling in the past few decades, and I feel that the closure of this massive penguin exhibit is going to contribute to that in a greater capacity at once than it ever has, or at least the most it has in a long time.
The purpose of this thread is to monitor births, deaths, transfers, and announcements regarding animals, exhibits, and statuses of the 12 penguin species currently on exhibit in the USA, Canada, and Mexico. For updates on worldwide holdings (not estimate species counts based on facility), visit here: Catalogue of Penguins in Captivity Worldwide
LP - Largest Population. The facilities with LP next to them means that that facility has the largest population of the corresponding species.
All of the species populations are an estimate based on Studbook/SSP information with consideration of non-studbook/SSP institutions, or estimations based on published species counts taking recency into account - these do not apply if exact numbers are known (e.g. we know the exact amount of Emperor Penguins because their transfer to SeaWorld Orlando was highly publicized).
With the exception of Guadalajara, the Mexican population for the Chinstraps, Gentoos, and Humboldts is an approximation based on quick Google searches of importation events, images of the exhibit, and likelihood of species capacity.
I have also provided listings based on each state/province at the end to get a better idea of how many species and individuals are kept per region.

Aptenodytes
Taxa Notes: Both of the great penguins are pretty restricted to the facilities they’re currently kept at. Emperors likely won’t expand anywhere else in the near future unfortunately. Kings have much more potential, but most subantarctic exhibits that don’t house them aren’t well-suited in terms of substrate and space to keep them anyway. I’ll keep the holdings for kings updated for when SWSD closes their Penguin Encounter if there are any additions/changes.

Emperor Penguin Aptenodytes forsteri
16 animals - 1 Holding - 1 US State
United States
- SeaWorld Orlando: 16 animals - LP

King Penguin Aptenodytes patagonicus
~235-245 animals - 15 Holdings - 11 US States, 2 Provinces
Canada
- Biodôme de Montreal: ~5 animals
- Calgary Zoo: ~15 animals
United States
- Albuquerque BioPark: ~12 animals
- Central Park Zoo: ~6-7 animals
- Cincinnati Zoo: ~3-4 animals
- Detroit Zoo: ~20 animals
- Kansas City Zoo: ~15 animals
- Moody Gardens: ~30 animals
- Newport Aquarium: ~5 animals
- Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo: ~15 animals
- Riverbanks Zoo: ~3-4 animals
- Saint Louis Zoo: 11 animals
- SeaWorld Orlando: ~55 animals - LP
- SeaWorld San Antonio: ~35 animals
- SeaWorld San Diego: ~15 animals

Pygoscelis
Taxa Notes: All three of these species breed well at institutions with sizable populations in spacious exhibits that encourage genetic diversity. Because of this, I could see Chinstrap and Gentoo populations expanding to other facilities in the next coming years. Possibly Adélie too if other facilities with Antarctic habitats are willing to adjust their temperatures low enough.
All three of these species are also kept in great numbers at the SWSD park, so I will update this thread when information is available on if there are any additions/changes.

Adélie Penguin Pygoscelis adeliae
~120-125 animals - 3 Holdings - 2 US States, 1 Mexican State
Mexico
- Zoológico Guadalajara: ~12-15 animals
United States
- SeaWorld Orlando: ~50 animals
- SeaWorld San Diego: ~80 animals - LP, subject to change

Chinstrap Penguin Pygoscelis antarcticus
~165 animals - 10 Holdings - 6-7 States, 1 Province, 1 Mexican State
Canada
- Biodôme de Montreal: ~6 animals
Mexico
- Acuario Inbursa: I’m not sure of the exact numbers, but based on videos, it looks like they have somewhere between ~3-6 animals
United States
- Central Park Zoo: ~25 animals
- Detroit Zoo: ~10 animals
- Kansas City Zoo: ~10 animals
- Moody Gardens: ~15 animals
- Newport Aquarium: ~1-2 animals
- SeaWorld Orlando: ~20 animals
- SeaWorld San Antonio: ~50 animals - LP
- SeaWorld San Diego: ~35 animals

Gentoo Penguin Pygoscelis papua
~540-555 animals: ~195 p. p. papua, ~360 p. p. ellsworthi - 22-23 Holdings - 15 US States, 2 Provinces, 2 Mexican States
Canada
- Biodôme de Montreal: ~15 animals (ellsworthi)
- Calgary Zoo: ~15 animals (nominate)
Mexico
- Acuario Inbursa: ~15 animals (ellsworthi is the most likely subspecies based on photos and importation history but I’m not certain)
- Zoológico Guadalajara: ~15 animals (ellsworthi)
United States
- Albuquerque BioPark: ~12 animals (nominate)
- Central Park Zoo: ~20 animals (ellsworthi)
- Detroit Zoo: ~30 animals (nominate)
- Henry Vilas Zoo (planned?): (ellsworthi)
- Indianapolis Zoo: ~15 animals (ellsworthi)
- Kansas City Zoo: ~40 animals (ellsworthi)
- Loveland Living Planet Aquarium: ~20 animals (ellsworthi)
- Milwaukee County Zoo: ~8 animals (ellsworthi)
- Moody Gardens: ~25 animals (ellsworthi)
- Newport Aquarium: ~10 animals (ellsworthi)
- Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo: ~35 animals (nominate)
- Pittsburgh Zoo: ~20 animals (ellsworthi)
- Riverbanks Zoo: ~10 animals (ellsworthi) I wanna say, but I don’t have a good idea of the amount kept here
- Saint Louis Zoo: ~15 animals (ellsworthi)
- SeaWorld Orlando: ~35 animals (ellsworthi)
- SeaWorld San Antonio: ~95 animals - LP (ellsworthi)
-
SeaWorld San Diego: ~70 animals - LP (nominate), subject to change
- Tennessee Aquarium: ~15 animals (nominate)
- Wonders of Wildlife: ~17 animals (nominate)

Eudyptula
Taxa Notes: I think potential future success of this species is promising as breeding has been well at a select few facilities and the population has expanded thanks to Australian and JAZA imports. This species in particular also does well with the public, and considering their temperature requirements are similar to the Spheniscus, as well as their small size meaning less space capacity, I could see this species becoming more dominant in U.S. captivity.

Little Blue Penguin Eudyptula minor novaehollandiae
~125-135 animals - 7 Holdings - 7 US States
United States
- Adventure Aquarium: ~15 animals
- Albuquerque BioPark: Based on exhibit I’d say ~10 animals, but I really have no idea
- Birch Aquarium: ~15 animals
- Bronx Zoo: ~15 animals
- Cincinnati Zoo: ~35 animals - LP
- Dallas World Aquarium: ~30 animals
- Louisville Zoo: ~15 animals

Eudyptes
Taxa Notes: Most facilities that keep crested species keep them in mixed habitats with species of other taxa, but a few southern rockhopper holders keep them in single-species habitats. Most facilities don’t mix different crested species together; Detroit and Moody Gardens are the only facilities that currently do. Some facilities have also flip-flopped between keeping southern rockhopper or macaroni in the last few decades (notably Central Park, Newport Aquarium, and Omaha).
For Macaroni, I’ll keep their holders updated for when SWSD closes their Penguin Encounter if there are any additions/changes.

Macaroni Penguin Eudyptes chrysolophus
~200 animals - 12 Holdings - 11 US States, 1 Province
Canada
- Biodôme de Montreal: ~8 animals
United States
- Albuquerque BioPark: ~10 animals
- Central Park Zoo: ~5 animals
- Detroit Zoo: ~18-20 animals
- Kansas City Zoo: ~8 animals
- Loveland Living Planet Aquarium: 4 animals
- Moody Gardens: ~20 animals
- Newport Aquarium: ~10 animals
- Pittsburgh Zoo: ~8 animals
- SeaWorld Orlando: ~30 animals - LP
- SeaWorld San Diego: ~10 animals
- Tennessee Aquarium: ~8 animals

Southern/Western Rockhopper Penguin Eudyptes chrysocome
~300 animals - 12 Holdings - 10 US States
United States
- Cincinnati Zoo: ~10 animals
- Detroit Zoo: ~20 animals
- Fort Worth Zoo: ~20 animals
- Indianapolis Zoo: ~15 animals
- Milwaukee County Zoo: ~8-10 animals
- Moody Gardens: ~15 animals
- New England Aquarium: ~15 animals
- Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo: ~35 animals
- Riverbanks Zoo: ~20 animals
- Saint Louis Zoo: 17 animals
- SeaWorld San Antonio: ~110 animals - LP
- Shedd Aquarium: ~10 animals

Northern Rockhopper Penguin Eudyptes moseleyi
~15-20 animals - 3 Holdings - 1 US State, 2 Provinces
Canada
- Biodôme de Montreal: ~15 animals - LP
- Calgary Zoo: ~3-4 animals
United States
- Moody Gardens: ~3-4 animals

Spheniscus
Taxa Notes: For the African listings, around 14 of the holdings were taken directly from Zootierliste so feel free to correct me if some of these facilities don’t have the species anymore. However, because of their very abundant presence in captivity I double checked all holdings to the best of my ability. For the African populations most of them are an approximate based on quick searches, taking recency of population postings into account. Some facilities don’t have their numbers specified due to not being accredited and so forth, and because their numbers are so huge, they have a very large range of total animals.
The last Humboldt SSP population was updated very recently, so approximate numbers should be close to almost perfectly accurate for most USA holdings and Calgary. For this species, zoos in Central America were not considered as this subforum focuses on collections from Mexico, USA, and Canada.
Magellanics are completely AZA-restricted so those holdings and numbers were easy to get ahold of.

African Penguin Spheniscus demersus
~1,100-1,250 animals - 74 Holdings - 32 States, 2 Provinces
Canada
- Marine Life at West Edmonton Mall: ~20 animals
- Toronto Zoo: ~30 animals
United States
- Adventure Aquarium: ~50 animals
- Animal Adventure Park: ~3-5 animals, but I’m not sure
- Audubon Aquarium: ~25 animals
- Bismarck’s Dakota Zoo: ~10 animals
- Boulder Ridge Wild Animal Park: ~15 animals
- Brights Zoo: ~15 animals
- Busch Gardens Tampa Bay: ~15-20 animals
- Caldwell Zoo: ~12-15 animals
- California Academy of Sciences: ~20 animals
- Cameron Park Zoo: ~20 animals
- Cheyenne Mountain Zoo: ~15 animals
- Chittenango Wild Animal Park: ~15 animals
- Cincinnati Zoo: ~20 animals
- Columbian Park Zoo: ~10 animals
- Como Park Zoo: ~7-10 animals
- Dallas World Aquarium: ~8-10 animals
- Dallas Zoo: ~10 animals
- Denver Zoo: ~25 animals
- Emerald Coast Zoo: not sure
- Erie Zoo: ~12 animals
- Essex Turtle Back Zoo: ~30 animals
- Florida Aquarium: ~10 animals
- Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo: ~30 animals
- Georgia Aquarium: ~25-30 animals
- Greensboro Science Center: ~30 animals
- Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park: not sure
- Hemker Park Zoo: ~20 animals
- Henson Robinson Zoo: ~5-6 animals
- Honolulu Zoo: ~10 animals
- Hyatt Regency Maui Resort: ~7-8 animals
- Idaho Falls Zoo: ~6-7 animals
- Jenkinson’s Aquarium: ~20 animals
- Keystone Safari: ~10 animals
- Lehigh Valley Zoo: ~15 animals
- Lincoln Park Zoo: ~20 animals
- Little Rock Zoo: ~25 animals
- Long Island Aquarium: ~15 animals
- Louisville Zoo: ~7-10 animals
- Maryland Zoo: ~100-110 animals - LP
- Memphis Zoo: ~20 animals
- Metro Richmond Zoo: not sure
- Minnesota Zoo: ~30 animals
- Mississippi Aquarium: ~10-12 animals
- Monterey Bay Aquarium: ~15 animals
- Montgomery Zoo: ~6-7 animals
- Mystic Aquarium: ~30 animals
- National Aviary: ~20 animals
- New England Aquarium: ~40 animals
- Newport Aquarium: not sure
- New York Aquarium: ~30 animals
- NEW Zoo: not sure
- North Georgia Wildlife Park: ~4-5 animals
- OdySea Aquarium: ~30-35 animals
- Pueblo Zoo: ~3-5 animals, but I’m not sure
- Racine Zoo: ~4-7 animals
- Ripley’s Aquarium of Myrtle Beach: ~20 animals
- Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies: ~15 animals
- Roosevelt Park Zoo: not sure
- Ross Park Zoo: ~8-10 animals
- Saginaw Children’s Zoo: ~7-8 animals
- San Antonio Aquarium: ~3-6 animals, but I’m not sure
- San Diego Zoo: ~25 animals
- Seneca Park Zoo: ~30-35 animals
- Six Flag’s Discovery Kingdom: not sure
- Tanganyika Wildlife Park: ~65 animals
- Timbavati Wildlife Park: not sure
- Toledo Zoo: ~35 animals
- Tulsa Zoo: ~25 animals
- Virginia Safari Park: not sure
- Wildlife World Zoo: not sure
- Wildwood Wildlife Park: not sure
- ZooTampa: ~20 animals

Humboldt Penguin Spheniscus humboldti
~445 animals - 28 Holdings - 17 US States, 1 Province, 3 Mexican States
Canada
- Calgary Zoo: ~20 animals
Mexico
- Acuario de Veracruz: ~20-25 animals
- Parque Zoológico de Leon: ~15 animals
- Zoológico de Chapultepec: ~5-15 animals
United States
- Akron Zoo: ~16 animals
- Aquarium of Niagara: ~15 animals
- Brookfield Zoo: ~25 animals
- Columbus Zoo: ~15 animals
- Denver Zoo: ~5-10 animals
- Great Plains Zoo: ~14 animals
- Houston Zoo: ~16 animals animals
- Kansas City Zoo: ~15 animals
- Lincoln Children’s Zoo: ~14 animals
- Mesker Park Zoo: ~15 animals
- Milwaukee County Zoo: ~16 animals
- Moody Gardens: ~12 animals
- Mote Science Education Aquarium: ~13 animals
- Oregon Zoo: ~24 animals
- Philadelphia Zoo: ~20-25 animals
- Pittsburgh Zoo: ~19 animals
- Roger Williams Park Zoo: ~12 animals
- Rosamond Gifford Zoo: ~26 animals
- Saint Louis Zoo: ~22 animals
- Santa Barbara Zoo: ~16 animals
- Scovill Zoo: ~15 animals
- Sea Life Park Hawaii: ~10-15 animals
- SeaWorld San Diego: ~11 animals
- Sedgwick County Zoo: ~24 animals
- Woodland Park Zoo: ~33 animals - LP

Magellanic Penguin Spheniscus magellanicus
~305 animals - 14 Holdings - 10 States
United States
- Aquarium of the Pacific: ~15-16 animals
- Blank Park Zoo: ~9 animals
- Bronx Zoo: ~30-35 animals
- Cincinnati Zoo: ~1 animal (ambassador)
- El Paso Zoo: ~14-15 animals
- Jacksonville Zoo: ~30 animals
- John Ball Zoo: ~25-26 animals
- Point Defiance Zoo: ~20-21 animals
- Potter Park Zoo: ~11-12 animals
- San Francisco Zoo: ~50-55 animals - LP
- SeaWorld Orlando: ~25 animals
- SeaWorld San Diego: ~35-37 animals
- Shedd Aquarium: ~30 animals
- Zoo Boise: ~8 animals

Listing of Penguin Holdings Per Canadian Province:
Alberta: 5 Species (King, Gentoo, Northern Rockhopper, African, Humboldt)
- Calgary Zoo (King, Gentoo, Northern Rockhopper, Humboldt)
- Marine Life at West Edmonton Mall (African)
Ontario: 1 Species (African)
- Toronto Zoo
Quebec: 5 Species (King, Chinstrap, Gentoo, Macaroni, Northern Rockhopper)
- Biodôme de Montreal

Listing of Penguin Holdings Per Mexican State:
Guadalajara: 2 Species (Adélie, Gentoo)
- Zoológico Guadalajara
Guanajuato: 1 Species (Humboldt)
- Parque Zoológico de Leon
Mexico City: 3 Species (Chinstrap, Gentoo, Humboldt)
- Acuario Inbursa (Chinstrap, Gentoo)
- Zoológico de Chapultepec (Humboldt)
Veracruz: 1 Species (Humboldt)
- Acuario de Veracruz

Listing of Penguin Holdings Per US State:
Alaska: no species.
Alabama: 1 Species (African)
- Montgomery Zoo
Arkansas: 1 Species (African)
- Little Rock Zoo
Arizona: 1 Species (African)
- OdySea Aquarium
- Wildlife World Zoo
California: 4-8 Species (King, Adélie, Chinstrap, Gentoo, Little Blue, Macaroni, African, Humboldt, Magellanic)
- Aquarium of the Pacific (Magellanic)
- Birch Aquarium (Little Blue)
- California Academy of Sciences (African)
- Monterey Bay Aquarium (African)
- San Diego Zoo (African)
- San Francisco Zoo (Magellanic)
- Santa Barbara Zoo (Humboldt)
- SeaWorld San Diego: 5 species possibly set to leave in/by November (King, Adélie, Chinstrap, Gentoo, Macaroni) and 2 species on exhibit/staying (Humboldt, Magellanic).
- Six Flags Discovery Kingdom (African)
Colorado: 2 Species (African, Humboldt)
- Cheyenne Mountain Zoo (African)
- Denver Zoo (African, Humboldt)
- Pueblo Zoo (African)
Connecticut: 1 Species (African)
- Mystic Aquarium
Delaware: no species.
Florida: 9 Species (Emperor, King, Adélie, Chinstrap, Gentoo, Macaroni, African, Humboldt, Magellanic)
- Busch Gardens Tampa Bay (African)
- Emerald Coast Zoo (African)
- Florida Aquarium (African)
- Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park (African)
- Jacksonville Zoo (Magellanic)
- Mote Science Education Aquarium (Humboldt)
- SeaWorld Orlando (Emperor, King, Adélie, Chinstrap, Gentoo, Macaroni, Magellanic)
- ZooTampa (African)
Georgia: 1 Species (African)
- Georgia Aquarium
- North Georgia Wildlife Park
Hawai’i: 2 Species (African, Humboldt)
- Honolulu Zoo (African)
- Hyatt Regency Maui Resort (African)
- Sea Life Park Hawaii (Humboldt)
Idaho: 2 Species (African, Magellanic)
- Idaho Falls Zoo (African)
- Zoo Boise (Magellanic)
Illinois: 4 Species (Southern Rockhopper, African, Humboldt, Magellanic)
- Brookfield Zoo (Humboldt)
- Henson Robinson Zoo (African)
- Lincoln Park Zoo (African)
- Scovill Zoo (Humboldt)
- Shedd Aquarium (Southern Rockhopper, Magellanic)
Indiana: 4 Species (Gentoo, Southern Rockhopper, African, Humboldt)
- Columbian Park Zoo (African)
- Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo (African)
- Indianapolis Zoo (Gentoo, Southern Rockhopper)
Mesker Park Zoo (Humboldt)
Iowa: 1 Species (Magellanic)
- Blank Park Zoo
Kansas: 2 Species (African, Humboldt)
- Sedgwick County Zoo (Humboldt)
- Tanganyika Wildlife Park (African)
Kentucky: 6 Species (King, Chinstrap, Gentoo, Little Blue, Macaroni, African)
- Louisville Zoo (Little Blue, African)
- Newport Aquarium (King, Chinstrap, Gentoo, Macaroni, African)
Louisiana: 1 Species (African)
- Audubon Aquarium (African)
Maine: no species.
Maryland: 1 Species (African)
- Maryland Zoo
Massachusetts: 2 Species (Southern Rockhopper, African)
- New England Aquarium
Michigan: 7 Species (King, Chinstrap, Gentoo, Macaroni, Southern Rockhopper, African, Magellanic)
- Boulder Ridge Wild Animal Park (African)
- Detroit Zoo (King, Chinstrap, Gentoo, Macaroni, Southern Rockhopper)
- John Ball Zoo (Magellanic)
- Potter Park Zoo (Magellanic)
- Saginaw Children’s Zoo (African)
Minnesota: 1 Species (African)
- Como Park Zoo
- Hemker Park Zoo
- Minnesota Zoo
Mississippi: 1 Species (African)
- Mississippi Aquarium
Missouri: 6 Species (King, Chinstrap, Gentoo, Macaroni, Southern Rockhopper, Humboldt)
- Kansas City Zoo (King, Chinstrap, Gentoo, Macaroni, Humboldt)
- Saint Louis Zoo (King, Gentoo, Southern Rockhopper, Humboldt)
- Wonders of Wildlife (Gentoo)
Montana: no species.
Nebraska: 4 Species (King, Gentoo, Southern Rockhopper, Humboldt)
- Lincoln Children’s Zoo (Humboldt)
- Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo (King, Gentoo, Southern Rockhopper)
Nevada: no species.
New Hampshire: no species.
New Jersey: 2 Species (Little Blue, African)
- Adventure Aquarium (Little Blue, African)
- Essex Turtle Back Zoo (African)
- Jenkinson’s Aquarium (African)
New Mexico: 4 Species (King, Gentoo, Little Blue, Macaroni)
- Albuquerque BioPark
New York: 8 Species (King, Chinstrap, Gentoo, Little Blue, Macaroni, African, Humboldt, Magellanic)
- Animal Adventure Park (African)
- Aquarium of Niagara (Humboldt)
- Bronx Zoo (Little Blue, Magellanic)
- Central Park Zoo (King, Chinstrap, Gentoo, Macaroni)
- Chittenango Wild Animal Park (African)
- Long Island Aquarium (African)
- New York Aquarium (African)
- Rosamond Gifford Zoo (Humboldt)
- Ross Park Zoo (African)
- Seneca Park Zoo (African)
North Carolina: 1 Species (African)
- Greensboro Science Center
North Dakota: 1 Species (African)
- Bismarck’s Dakota Zoo
- Roosevelt Park Zoo
Ohio: 6 Species (King, Little Blue, Southern Rockhopper, African, Humboldt, Magellanic)
- Akron Zoo (Humboldt)
- Cincinnati Zoo (King, Little Blue, Southern Rockhopper, African, Magellanic)
- Columbus Zoo (Humboldt)
- Toledo Zoo (African)
Oklahoma: 1 Species (African)
- Tulsa Zoo
Oregon: 1 Species (Humboldt)
- Oregon Zoo
Pennsylvania: 4 Species (Gentoo, Macaroni, African, Humboldt)
- Erie Zoo (African)
- Keystone Safari (African)
- Lehigh Valley Zoo (African)
- National Aviary (African)
- Pittsburgh Zoo (Gentoo, Macaroni, Humboldt)
- Philadelphia Zoo (Humboldt)
Rhode Island: 1 Species (Humboldt)
- Roger Williams Park Zoo
South Carolina: 4 Species (King, Gentoo, Southern Rockhopper, African)
- Ripley’s Aquarium of Myrtle Beach (African)
- Riverbanks Zoo (King, Gentoo, Southern Rockhopper)
South Dakota: 1 Species (Humboldt)
- Great Plains Zoo
Tennessee: 3 Species (Gentoo, Macaroni, African)
- Brights Zoo (African)
- Memphis Zoo (African)
- Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies (African)
- Tennessee Aquarium (Gentoo, Macaroni)
Texas: 10 Species (King, Chinstrap, Gentoo, Little Blue, Macaroni, Southern Rockhopper, Northern Rockhopper, African, Humboldt, Magellanic)
- Caldwell Zoo (African)
- Cameron Park Zoo (African)
- Dallas World Aquarium (Little Blue, African)
- Dallas Zoo (African)
- El Paso Zoo (Magellanic)
- Fort Worth Zoo (Southern Rockhopper, African)
- Houston Zoo (Humboldt)
- Moody Gardens (King, Chinstrap, Gentoo, Macaroni, Southern Rockhopper, Northern Rockhopper, Humboldt)
- San Antonio Aquarium (African)
- SeaWorld San Antonio (King, Chinstrap, Gentoo, Southern Rockhopper)
Utah: 2 Species (Gentoo, Macaroni)
- Loveland Living Planet Aquarium
Vermont: no species.
Virginia: 1 Species (African)
- Metro Richmond Zoo
- Virginia Safari Park
Washington: 2 Species (Humboldt, Magellanic)
- Point Defiance Zoo (Magellanic)
- Woodland Park Zoo (Humboldt)
West Virginia: no species.
Wisconsin: 4 Species (Gentoo, Southern Rockhopper, African, Humboldt)
- Henry Vilas Zoo (Gentoos soon?)
- Milwaukee County Zoo (Gentoo, Southern Rockhopper, Humboldt)
- NEW Zoo (African)
- Racine Zoo (African)
- Timbavati Wildlife Park (African)
- Wildwood Wildlife Park (African)
Wyoming: no species.
Wilderness Trails Zoo in Birch Run, Mi should have 2 Africans.
 
Chapultepec zoo has 5 Humboldt penguins. Acuario Michin in Mexico City also has 5 Humboldt penguins. This species is also present at Acuario Mazatlán, which has bred penguins and should have about ten. Your other estimates on penguins in Mexican animal collections seem accurate.
 
Thanks for your comments. Because the penguin populations change so frequently and deaths are often not publicized I kept most of the holdings approximate, so I’ll take your post in consideration when editing approximations.
Kansas City received 3.3 Chinstraps from SeaWorld San Antonio in addition to the 3 already kept.


Where have you heard NEA keeps Northern? The last report they had both was in 2010 and the population of the species has decreased significantly since then due to unsuccessful breeding, and Moody Gardens is now the only USA holding. Both their studbook and the NEA website only lists them keeping Western, and I don’t see any Northerns in any recent photos.
The studbooks/SSPs for the penguins can be a little funky. According to a keeper there they have one Northern left.
 
I remember the penguins at a lot of those facilities, especially SeaWorld Orlando, now that it's gonna be the only place with emperor penguins.
 
A new magellanic penguin (Rosie 0.1) has arrived at the Aquarium of the Pacific
Aquarium of the Pacific on Instagram: "Introducing Rosie! Rosie, a four-year-old Magellanic penguin, is making her debut at the Aquarium of the Pacific. The public can now see Rosie swim and interact with her fellow penguins in the June Keyes Penguin Habitat. Each penguin in the Aquarium’s habitat has a distinct personality, and Rosie is quiet, curious, and playful. She is being fed restaurant-quality food by the Aquarium’s animal care staff, including capelin, squid, and her favorite so far: herring. “We are so excited to have Rosie join our Magellanic penguin colony. She seems like she will be a bright addition to the group with her curious and social nature. We are looking forward to getting to know her as she settles in and begins to explore our habitat,” said Aviculturist Ashley. Rosie came from an Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) accredited facility. The Aquarium of the Pacific participates in the AZA Species Survival Program (SSP) for Magellanic penguins. Magellanic penguins are a medium-sized, temperate species native to the coasts of Argentina and Chile in South America. The public is also welcome to view Rosie and the rest of the penguins on the Aquarium’s live webcam, linked in bio. She can be spotted in her hot pink, orange, and yellow band around her flipper. The Penguin Cam is brought to us courtesy of @exploreorg, the philanthropic media organization and division of the Annenberg Foundation. #AOPpenguins"
 
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