The Warsaw zoo is starting to make an investment in a new enclosure for Cape penguins. The animals will be moved next year to a place that will provide them with a more comfortable living space closer to their natural environment.
New penguin enclosure adapted to the needs of the
The development will include a complex, the centrepiece of which will be an open swimming pool with an island. It will be surrounded by beaches with varied surfaces and breeding areas. There will also be a separate quarantine enclosure with a shallow body of water to isolate some individuals if necessary. In addition, a livestock building is planned for the animals and technical staff only. The new enclosure will be designed to allow visitors to observe the penguins both on the surface and underwater. By using the glass walls of the enclosure, visitors will be able to learn more about the habits of these birds. The entire public area will be adapted for people with disabilities.
New enclosure for endangered penguins – cost and implementation
Cape penguins, also known as toons or commonly referred to as ‘donkeys’ due to their loud noises, are a critically endangered species. Their natural habitats are found along the southern African coast, from Namibia to southern Mozambique. The zoo’s new facility will also serve an educational purpose. Visitors will be able to learn about the biology of the species and more about the threats they face in the wild. The construction of the penguin pavilion was funded by the Panda Foundation. The investment, which will cost around PLN 14.5 million, will be carried out by VARCO Tomasz Jezutek. The work is expected to be completed next year.
A brief history of the Warsaw zoo
The Warsaw zoo was opened on 11 March 1928. Initially it occupied 12 hectares and housed around 500 animals. Today it is one of the most important zoological gardens in Poland, known for its educational activities and protection of endangered species. The first director of the facility was Wenanty Burdziński, followed by Jan Żabiński. During his tenure, the zoo gained international renown, thanks in part to the birth of the elephant Tuzinka in 1937. During World War II, the garden was ruined, while some of the animals were killed or deported to Germany. Jan and Antonina Żabiński, then hosts of a villa on the zoo grounds, hid Jews there, saving the lives of many of them. After the war, the garden was rebuilt and reopened in 1948. In the following decades, Prague’s zoo underwent numerous modernisations. In 2022, the zoo was named after Antonina and Jan Żabiński as a tribute to their courage and service during the occupation.
Source: Warsaw City Hall(https://um.warszawa.pl), zoo.waw.pl
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