The new penguin exhibit opens at Roger Williams Park Zoo

ContributorMay 24, 20251 Mins read135

PROVIDENCE, RI — This Memorial Day weekend, Roger Williams Park Zoo is making a splash with the grand opening of its new penguin exhibit: a lively colony of Humboldt penguins. The Zoo welcomes a dozen of these unique, warm-weather-loving birds as part of an exciting summer debut.

When most people think of penguins, icy landscapes come to mind—but Humboldt penguins defy that stereotype. Native to the arid, rocky coastlines of Chile and Peru, these penguins thrive in warm climates near nutrient-rich waters.

Standing 15 to 18 inches tall and weighing around 9 pounds, Humboldt penguins are expertly adapted for life at sea. Their sleek, waterproof feathers are kept in top condition through constant grooming with oil from a special gland. Their diet includes fish, squid, and crustaceans.

Once numbering over a million in the mid-19th century, Humboldt penguins are now classified as “vulnerable” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), with only about 12,000 breeding pairs remaining. Their decline is driven by threats such as overfishing of key food sources, accidental entanglement in fishing gear, climate change, and the destruction of nesting sites due to guano harvesting.

Roger Williams Park Zoo is deeply committed to the conservation of this at-risk species. The Zoo participates in the Species Survival Plan® (SSP), a coordinated effort among accredited zoos and aquariums to ensure a healthy, genetically diverse Humboldt penguin population through managed breeding and cooperative care.

This marks the return of penguins to Roger Williams Park Zoo for the first time since 2013, making it one of just 24 institutions in North America to house and help safeguard this remarkable species.

The Roger Williams Park Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and American Humane certification, indicating high standards for animal welfare and humane treatment.