Detroit Zoo's Polk Penguin Center Reopens In Royal Oak

ROYAL OAK, MI — The Polk Penguin Conservation Center at the Detroit Zoo reopened to the public Monday with numerous new enhancements as well as welcoming a new species, zoo officials announced. The largest penguin facility in the world closed in September 2019 because of faulty waterproofing.

“While supervising the necessary waterproofing repairs, it was important for us to also use this time to make enhancements to the penguins’ welfare and our guests’ experiences," Detroit Zoo Society Executive Director and CEO Dr. Hayley Murphy said.

The $32 million penguin exhibit opened in 2016 but officials found by June 2019 that the facility was losing about about nine gallons of groundwater each day. During the upgrades, the penguins lived in the former Penguinarium at the zoo, which was not open to the public, zoo officials said.

Other upgrades to the center included a section of glass flooring that allows guests to see the birds swimming below their feet, repainted rock surfaces and the creation of more nesting areas, officials said.

The center also placed a greater focus on changing climate and the resulting loss of sea ice, as well as a second snow machine within the habitat, upgrades to the water and air filtration systems, officials said.

The facility also welcomed more than 75 king, rockhopper, macaroni, gentoo and chinstrap penguins to the center.

"The chinstraps settled right in and became avid swimmers. Once the lights come on for the day, TJ, Haiku, Kringle and Turtle immediately dive into the pool," Detroit Zoological Society Curator of Birds Bonnie Van Dam said. "They also had no problem integrating with the other species. Penguins thrive within larger colonies, and they are just exceptional at mingling."

The center is located on 2 acres near the main entrance of the Zoo, which is included with general admission. Timed-entry passes are required, officials said. At least 2,000 passes per day will be available on a first-come, first-served basis at admissions.