Pocono News Section

Penguin Exhibit Open in Lehigh County

Penguin Exhibit Open in Lehigh County - Friday, January 23, 2009 at 5:32PM EST

Reported by: Jeff Chirico
Friday, Jan 23, 2009 @ 05:32pm EST
Penguins! Everyone loves the adorable birds. They've even starred in several recent movies. But now the black and white birds are the stars of a new exhibit in Schnecksville, Lehigh County. Jeff Chirico takes us to see these cool animals.

They took Hollywood by storm in the animated film Happy Feet. And now the irresistible birds are making happy fans at the Lehigh Valley Zoo. "Look at them. Aren't they cute?" “What do you like about them? Um, they look pretty."

The eight African penguins have made a big splash since moving in to their new digs last month from three U. S. zoos. Stacey Johnson, executive director of the Lehigh Valley Zoo says "the first day we had them on exhibit the kids standing along railing of exhibit clapping hands and jumping up and down."

Johnson says under those tuxedos are 6 pounds of fish-hogging, lightning-fast swimmers. "They're out there swimming 4-6 miles per hour which makes Olympic swimmers look slow by comparison." They're social birds by nature, "But Tulani over here does not work and play well with others but he tends to segregate himself. They haven't kicked him out but he's kind of a bully."

This is where the penguins usually hang out. You'd think the ice would make a perfect habitat for them. But these guys are from Africa, and are used to warmer weather. So they can't come out and play until the ice is cleared away. “They would rather have temperatures like what we prefer between 30-75 degrees."

You can't help but be amused by watching Curtis, Greer, Houdini and the rest of the gang who steal the show from their showbiz cousins. The zookeeper says they hope enough ice melts today to let the birds out tomorrow. If you're interested in seeing them this weekend, it’s recommended you call first. You can find hours, directions, and rates by going to