Cold-climate penguins at Newport Aquarium to move as expansion begins

Cold-climate penguins at Newport Aquarium to move as expansion begins Advertisement Updated: 3:37 PM EST Nov 6, 2026 Editorial Standards ⓘ Matthew Dietz Digital Editor Cold-climate penguins at Newport Aquarium to move as expansion begins Updated: 3:37 PM EST Nov 6, 2026 Editorial Standards ⓘ Matthew Dietz Digital Editor NEWPORT, Ky. — The Newport Aquarium is expanding its African penguin colony, turning Penguin Palooza into a revamped exhibit. As a result of the expansion, the cold-climate penguins currently living in Penguin Palooza will move to new homes over the coming months. Advertisement Animal care and veterinary teams have spent months planning for the penguins to move and will coordinate each placement carefully, the aquarium said in a release. Before the penguins begin their journeys, Newport Aquarium invites visitors to say goodbye, with a three-day celebration of the cold-climate penguins from Nov. 20-22. During that weekend, guests can visit with the penguins one last time, write their favorite penguin memories on a memory wall and visit an African penguin conservation station that will further explain what the expansion means for the aquarium. "These penguins have been part of so many family visits over the years, and people are going to miss them," said Rebecca Foster, vice president and executive director of Newport Aquarium. "That is exactly why we are giving the area a holiday season to come say goodbye. What comes next is a chance for our guests to help us protect one of the most endangered penguin species on the planet." African penguins are classified as critically endangered, with fewer than 20,000 existing in the wild today. Aquariums and accredited zoos now play a vital role in sustaining the population, which Newport Aquarium is now embracing by welcoming a full colony. “Every decision in this transition has been driven by what is best for the individual birds and what is best for the species long term," said Chris Plante, director of zoological operations at Newport Aquarium. "Expanding our African penguin colony strengthens our ability to support this species for generations to come, and it reflects Newport Aquarium’s commitment to conserving wildlife and wild places, both close to home and worldwide.” Make WLWT a preferred source on Google Add Preferred Source Share Infinite Scroll Enabled Top Picks Wild video: Runaway tire flies off a truck and strikes an unsuspecting man 19-year-old to become one of Massachusetts' youngest representatives in state history Dramatic video: Mother rescues man drowning 'We brought him home': A WWII soldier killed 82 years ago has finally been laid to rest