Penguins Waddle Into Roger Williams Park Zoo for a Summer Splash

Turns out you don’t need snow, ice, or a trip to Connecticut to meet a penguin – just head to Providence. Beginning Memorial Day weekend, Roger Williams Park Zoo is rolling out the red carpet for a dozen Humboldt penguins in a brand-new, splashy exhibit that’s sure to become your go-to warm-weather hangout.

These pint-sized seabirds are anything but frosty. Native to the sun-drenched coastlines of Chile and Peru, Humboldt penguins thrive in warm, rocky environments and prefer a good swim over a snowball fight. With their signature waddles and 9-pound frames, these 15- to 18-inch charmers are ready to make waves in the Ocean State.

Guests can enjoy up-close views of the penguins diving, sunbathing, and flaunting their famously social personalities. Behind the scenes, zookeepers work hard to maintain their waterproof feathers and serve up a seafood menu fit for flippered royalty—think fish, squid, and crustaceans galore.

Beyond the adorable photo ops, the new exhibit spotlights an important conservation story. Humboldt penguins are currently classified as “vulnerable,” with threats like climate change, overfishing, and habitat destruction shrinking their populations. Once numbering over a million in the 19th century, today only about 12,000 breeding pairs remain.

Roger Williams Park Zoo is stepping up. As part of the Species Survival Plan®, the Zoo collaborates with accredited facilities across North America to maintain a healthy, genetically diverse population of Humboldt penguins through responsible breeding and long-term care.

The exhibit also marks a kind of homecoming – Roger Williams Park Zoo last housed penguins in 2013, making their return a welcome and much-anticipated event. For more information, visit RWPZoo.org.