Waco Zoo Now Home To Largest Penguin Colony In Texas

Waco, Texas has 22 new residents and is now home to the largest South African penguin colony in the state. The 22 newest residents are perfectly paired with 11 females and 11 males, and that has the whole team poised to grow quickly for a species that is now considered to be endangered.

Read More: Devastating Loss, Beloved Texas Zoo Animal Now Dead

This addition to the Cameron Park Zoo is more than a year and a half in the making as ground was broken for the new exhibit near the end of 2022. It is also a welcome joy as the zoo recently dealt with the loss of their beloved Kucing the Sumatran white tiger earlier this year that you can read about in the above link.

Get our free mobile app

According to this KCEN article, there are only a few other South African penguin colonies to be found at any zoos across the United States. My kids have been begging us to go to the zoo for the past few weeks, and now that the new Gloria & FM Young Penguin Shores exhibit is officially open, you can probably guess what our weekend plans will include.

Waco Zoo Now Home To Largest Penguin Colony In Texas

One neat thing about South African penguins is the pattern on their chest is unique to each bird, and is much like a fingerprint to humans. Additionally, they are great swimmers, and so you definitely do not want to miss feeding time.

The two foot tall birds are affectionally being called the "Waco Waddlers."