Latest News

Brandon Sun - ONLINE EDITION

Penguins waddle to Winnipeg

Zoo to host sociable African birds at temporary exhibit

By: Oliver Sachgau

Saturday, Mar. 2, 2013 at 11:50 AM | Comments: 0

Thomas Kienzle / The Associated Press Archives Four African black-footed penguins will live at the Assiniboine Park Zoo for several months before moving to a permanent home. (CP)

If the new polar bear Hudson is not enough to attract visitors to the Assiniboine Park Zoo, penguins might add to the draw.

The zoo will host penguins for the first time, it announced Friday. Visitors will be able to see a group of four African black-footed penguins on a temporary basis this spring and summer, with an anticipated opening goal of early May.

The opportunity to get the penguins came at a zoo conference in Phoenix, said Tim Sinclair-Smith, director of zoological operations at Assiniboine Park Zoo.

"I met up with one of my colleagues and he was telling me about one of his penguin exhibits which book up very quickly -- they're very popular. And fortunately, I was able to secure the penguin exhibit and bring it up here," he said.

Because they were born in captivity and hand-raised, he said the birds are very sociable.

"They can be very friendly or handleable. They're very interactive. They're at a good size where they're not too much of a handful but you can pick them up and work with them. They're a very exciting animal and very agile swimmers," he said.

African black-footed penguins are native to the coast of South Africa and are known for their loud, braying calls. The noise should not be too loud for people, Sinclair-Smith said. What will be noticeable, however, is the smell.

"They're birds, so lots of poop, lots of smell, but that's just normal," he said.

The penguins will be at the park for a limited time this spring and summer as part of the HUB Horizon Insurance Penguin Cove.

In addition to seeing the penguins, which will be visible above and below water, visitors will be educated on the birds' threatened status and the efforts being made to keep them from extinction. The zoo will make a donation to the South African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds.

"When you bring penguins in, we don't want to just be bringing them so people can look at them. The whole reason for bringing them here is to educate people about the plight of (the penguins)," Sinclair-Smith said.

The exhibit is only at the zoo temporarily. The penguins will be taken to a permanent location after the exhibit ends, but Sinclair-Smith said he's still excited for the opportunity.

"It's something unique, it's something different and it's something that hasn't been here before. We have to realize that not everybody will get the opportunity to go and see penguins, whether it's in a zoo across the country or across the world," he said.

oliver.sachgau@freepress.mb.ca

Rate this
This article has not yet been rated.

We want you to tell us what you think of our articles. If the story moves you, compels you to act or tells you something you didn’t know, mark it high. If you thought it was well written, do the same. If it doesn’t meet your standards, mark it accordingly.

You can also register and/or login to the site and join the conversation by leaving a comment.

Rate it yourself by rolling over the stars and clicking when you reach your desired rating. We want you to tell us what you think of our articles. If the story moves you, compels you to act or tells you something you didn’t know, mark it high.

Sort by: Newest to Oldest | Oldest to Newest | Most Popular 0 Comments

You can comment on most stories on brandonsun.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.

There are no comments at the moment. Be the first to post a comment below.

Post Your Comment

The Brandon Sun does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. Comments are moderated before publication. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.