November 29, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: Rodger Pille, (859) 815-1432, rpille@newportaquarium.com
Aquarium Announces Penguin Exhibit
Renovation
Popular Gallery Gets Complete Makeover for Spring 2011
Newport, Ky. –- Newport Aquarium announced today that it will completely overhaul and
reintroduce one of its most popular galleries: the Kroger Kingdom of Penguins exhibit.
The gallery is currently home to three species (King, Gentoo and Chinstrap penguins) and 28
total birds. The exhibit is kept at 34-degrees and on the lighting cycle of the Antarctic
Peninsula and the sub-Antarctic islands, where these animals are found naturally. Spanning
1,000-square feet, including rock work and an 8,000-gallon tank, the Kroger Kingdom of
Penguins exhibit was one of Newport Aquarium’s original exhibit areas when it opened to the
public in 1999.
“Adults and kids alike tell us repeatedly that this is one of their favorite areas of the
Aquarium,” said Ric Urban, curator of birds and mammals for the Aquarium. “Our goal is to
create a world-class experience and a state-of-the-art habitat for these lovable animals.”
Urban calls the project a complete re-conceptualization of the cold penguin exhibit, making it
instantly, visually different from its current state as the Kroger Kingdom of Penguins exhibit.
Some of the highlights of the new gallery include:
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New seating area for Aquarium guests
Improved habitat for penguins, including new rock-work
Expanded gallery space
Fun, new live show to accompany exhibit
New interactive elements
Behind the scenes construction has been underway since late September. Full construction on
the exhibit will begin in early January 2011.
The new exhibit is expected to open in late March.
Note: Because this will be a major renovation, the cold penguin exhibit will be closed
temporarily and the cold penguins will go off display from January 3, 2011 until the exhibit reopens in March.
Newport Aquarium will continue to offer its popular Penguin Encounters and the daily Penguin
Parade, both of which feature warm-weather African penguins, during the cold-penguin exhibit
renovation.
Penguin Encounters, offered five times daily, are a unique way to experience penguin life. For
a nominal surcharge, guests can go behind-the-scenes with an Aquarium biologist and spend
time with the African penguins in their own habitat.
The Penguin Parade is the Aquarium’s unique way to start each day and features Randy, Paula,
Simon or any of the other African penguins at the Aquarium. The penguins arrive in their
custom-made Penguin Mobile amidst a ton of fun and fanfare. A biologist who cares for them
will share interesting facts about penguins and conservation. And each day, one lucky child will
be chosen at random to be the Parade's Grand Marshall.
“Because we know how popular the penguins are, we wanted to communicate information
about the new exhibit and its construction as early as possible,” Urban said. “The timing is
good because so many people visit during the holidays for Scuba Santa’s Water Wonderland.
Kids will have a great chance to say ‘see you later’ to the penguins before they go off exhibit
for a few weeks. Then they’ll be back and playing at the Aquarium – in new and improved
space – in no time.”
Newport Aquarium also announced today the continuation of its popular Winter Family Days
deal. Beginning Jan. 3 and running through Feb. 28, two children (ages 2-12) will be admitted
FREE with each adult paying full price. The special discount is valid every day of the week
during regular operating hours for the Aquarium. Children under 2 are admitted free every day.
Strollers are welcome during Winter Family Days.
For more information on Newport Aquarium, including hours and pricing, visit
www.newportaquarium.com or call (859) 261-7444.
Reminder: Extended Holiday Hours: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
December 26 – January 2
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Newport Aquarium showcases thousands of animals from around the world in a million gallons
of water. You’ll be amazed at all there is to see and do, including fun and interactive
activities, like touching a shark or meeting penguins. Newport Aquarium is a Herschend Family
Entertainment company (www.hfecorp.com) and a member of the Association of Zoos and
Aquariums (AZA), a leader in global wildlife conservation. Newport Aquarium is open to the
public 365 days a year and is located only two minutes from downtown Cincinnati at Newport
on the Levee.