Penguins of Patagonia

Mesker Park Zoo’s new Penguins of Patagonia exhibit will give zoo guests an up-close glimpse of the Humboldt penguin colony’s seaside habitat. Multiple nest boxes for over a dozen pairs of penguins will provide access to a landscape mimicking the Chiloe archipelago region of Chile and a 35,000 gallon pool system. Guests will watch penguins glide, dive, and swim through multiple underwater viewing locations.
Multiple campus ecology strategies were vetted through feasibility studies, and several are incorporated into the final design to provide energy and water savings over the life of the exhibit. Geothermal heating/cooling, LSS wastewater recovery, rainwater harvesting, and a constructed wetland help create a robust behind-the-scenes support facility for these charismatic birds.

The project is scheduled to open in 2021.