They’re cute. They walk funny. They’re flightless. But these little suckers sure can swim. They’re the African Penguins. And we’ve got over twenty of them at Penguin Island — our very own penguin paradise.
And with a 17,000-gallon, 70' x35' pool, it most certainly is. These guys have plenty of room to swim, frolic and dive — and since that’s when they’re at their most entertaining, we even have a 20-foot underwater viewing area. So come on down, check them out and have a laugh. We know you’ll love them, too.
SHOW ALERT:
Check the daily schedule when you arrive to see an experienced Aquarium biologist share all the scoop on penguin behavior including why they are such great swimmers, what they like to eat and what their lives are like in the wild.
I stand about 12 inches high and can eat up to 20 percent of my body weight in just one sitting! People think I love the cold weather, but I actually like more moderate climates, like my home here at
Adventure Aquarium in New Jersey. I'm cute, I walk funny and I sure can swim fast! What creature am I?
I'm an African Black-Footed Penguin!
Common Name: African Black-Footed Penguin Latin Name: Spheniscus demersus Size: Up to 28 inches tall, 4.5 to 11 pounds. Range: Southwestern coast of Africa Habitat: Rocky shores, on either the mainland or on 24 islands off the coast of South Africa. Diet: Small fish, small crustaceans, and squid. They obtain water from their food. Interesting Fact: Every African Penguin has black spots on its white belly, and no two penguins have the exact same spots, just like human fingerprints. On Exhibit: Penguin Island- Adventure Zone B
There are 17 species of penguins worldwide. Only 7 of them live where it's cold, and African penguins are not one of them. Their native climate is a lot like New Jersey's, so they're quite comfortable outside at Penguin Island in Zone B. In fact, some penguins live in the Galapagos Islands where it's very warm! Regardless of their preferred climate, all penguins live south of the Equator. That's a surprising to some people, especially when they learn that Polar Bears only live at the North Pole. That means that even though you may see them hanging out together in TV commercials, Polar Bears and penguins actually never see each other! Another fact you may not know about penguins is that they mate for life. We have a prime example at Penguin Island- Jack and Diane. They're mates, and last year, they added a new member to their family- Little Ditty. He was hatched on November 1st, 2008 and now you can see Little Ditty on exhibit! Hint…he's the penguin that still has his dark gray, juvenile plumage. And, he's been joined by a few more penguin chicks this year! Check out below to watch the video of our newest penguin chicks.
Interested in a more interactive experience with our penguins? We are now offering our brand new Positively Penguins Adventure! You and up to three friends can take a tour of our penguin house to see how our biologists care for, feed, and train our penguins. The Adventure also includes a photo, t-shirt, and a one-on-one meeting with our penguins! For more information about this new Adventure, be sure to contact the sales office at 800-616-JAWS (5297). We hope to see you soon!
