An Exciting Announcement
Cessna Penguin Cove, which has been closed since last year, is finally reopening! Everyone’s favorite feathered friends are returning just in time for the holidays, and are ready for you to come visit them.
The habitat will reopen to Zoo guests on Christmas Day with updated features, familiar graphics, and excited penguins. These birds are not the only ones returning to the habitat; guests will be able to spot Grey Gulls and Inca Terns flying around the area.
The Construction Process
What happened?
Cessna Penguin Cove, which has been open since 2007, was greatly in need of repairs. After years of harsh Kansas weather, penguin use, and typical day-to-day wear and tear, the bonded acrylic panels on the habitat failed. This issue caused water to leak out of bonded joints and the curved acrylic of the habitat to crack above water level. These were repairs that needed immediate attention and the Zoo’s maintenance teams jumped into action.
Who helped with repairs?
Construction experts like WDM Architects, Conco Construction, and Nets Unlimited were called in to help assist with the construction process. These groups and the Zoo’s maintenance staff worked together to make repairs and new updates to the Cessna Penguin Cove habitat.
What was done to fix the habitat?
The teams removed two smaller steel column supports and replaced them with two newer and larger columns to provide back up for the new acrylic panels. The habitat’s old acrylic panels were removed and replaced with fifty new acrylic panels with no bonded joints.
How long did the construction process take?
This process, from start to finish, was nearly a ten month process. From engineering, to creating drawings to the final days of construction, this project was a team effort and could not have been done without the hard work from all construction teams involved.
The project is a testament to SCZ’s commitment to creating the safest and enriching environments for all of our animal species.
A Penguin Staycation
Where did the penguins go while their cove was under construction? The group has been behind the scenes here at the Zoo enjoying a little R&R time until the metaphorical (and literal) dust settles on their habitat. Complete with pools, misters and daily enrichment, it’s practically a penguin paradise!
Check out the video below for a behind-the scenes look at SCZ’s penguin vacation spot.
Penguin Fast Facts
Here at the Sedgwick County Zoo and Cessna Penguin Cove, we are home to a unique species of penguin; the Humboldt penguin. These penguins, which are native to the warm costal regions of Chile and Peru in South America, are a vital part of our Zoo family.
Read on to learn all about the Humboldt penguin before visiting them on Christmas Day!
- Humboldt penguins are medium-sized birds
- Pink base on their bills with black and white banded coloring
- Native to South America along the coast of the Pacific Ocean
- Spend up to 75% of their time in the water
- Their diet consists of different types of school fish and occasionally crustaceans and cephalopods
- Listed as Vulnerable on the ICUN Red List
SCZ appreciates the support and patience of our guests during this period of construction. As a thank you, we are opening Cessna Penguin Cove and are thrilled to welcome back our penguin fans and lovers alike on Christmas Day. Stay tuned to Sedgwick County Zoo’s social media pages for more updates on our penguins!