PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — If you’re looking for something to do this weekend, you may want to consider a trip to Roger Williams Park Zoo.
A dozen Humboldt penguins have moved into a new exhibit called “Penguin Point.” The zoo is one of only 24 facilities in North America to care for this species.
The “quirky, sun-loving” penguins were flown in from Peru. They favor rocky environments near nutrient-dense waters, according to the zoo.
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Since 1988, these penguins have been listed as “vulnerable” as their population continues to decline.
With an estimated 12,000 breeding pairs left, the zoo is committed to the “long-term viability of Humboldt penguins through its involvement in the Species Survival Plan.”
The zoo hasn’t had penguins since 2013, but announced in 2022 that they’d be returning. The city gave the zoo $1.5 million in COVID-19 relief funds to renovate the old exhibit in hopes of attracting more visitors.
Initially, the zoo had planned to bring the penguins back last summer, but the opening date was pushed back due to “unforeseen circumstances” with the habitat.
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