By Julia Train
In early December, the Cape May County Park & Zoo announced that it would be bringing Humboldt Penguins and Chilean Flamingos to the zoo.
“The Cape May County Zoological Society is creating world-class habitats for Humboldt Penguins and Chilean Flamingos at the Cape May County Zoo,” the zoo said in a Dec. 3, 2024 Facebook post.
The habitats will be in the vacant space that formerly held the World of Birds aviary building.
The aviary, which opened in 1998, housed up to 80 birds, including about 30 species. The building had two vestibules and a large atrium, with a walkway for visitors to see the birds without glass or bars between them.
Adding the two incoming exhibits, along with the possibility of redesigning the zoo’s entrance, are the first steps in an extensive 10-year master plan.
According to Phillyvoice.com, the Cape May County Zoological Society nonprofit is raising funds for the project, which is estimated to cost at least $4 million.
Cape May Zoo Director Edward Runyon told Philly Voice that the zoo wants to reintroduce flamingos, which were once a popular attraction in the World of Birds building.
The new habitats will hold 20 penguins and 30 flamingos, sourced from other accredited zoos through the Species Survival Plan program, according to phillyvoice.com.
Chilean flamingos have long bodies that can stretch up to 57 inches and pale pink feathers. In the wild, they rely on “increasingly fragile wetland ecosystems,” according to the Zoological Society.
According to the Center for Biological Diversity, Humboldt penguins can grow up to approximately 26 to 28 inches and weigh around 10.4 pounds. Their upperparts are blackish-gray, while their underparts are white. They have a distinctive black breast band and a black head with white stripes extending from the eyes, around the ear-coverts and joining beneath the chin. The bill is primarily black, with a light pink base. Juveniles have dark-colored heads and lack the breast band.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature considers them “vulnerable” due to a loss of food supply and overfishing.
Both species are native to South America. The precise sizes of the habitats, which will mimic the birds’ natural environments, have not been determined yet, but according to Runyon, since flamingos and penguins are colony species that stay close together, they don’t require a lot of space.
The flamingo habitat will feature a pool and rock formations designed to mimic the coast of Chile, along with a fence for better viewing. Runyon noted that this will be the zoo’s first time housing Humboldt penguins, adding that Cape May County officials drew some inspiration from the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore.
The World of Birds Aviary closed on May 1, 2023, and was demolished last year after the Cape May County Park & Zoo announced its permanent closure in a March 31, 2023 statement on Facebook.
“As one of the oldest attractions at the Zoo, 25 years of tropical conditions has taken its toll on the building, and necessary maintenance and repairs have become unsustainable,” the post said.
The birds have been relocated to several zoos, including the Bronx Zoo in New York City, where the flamingos are now.
Depending on the size and scope of the project, construction on the new exhibits may begin in late 2025 or early 2026.
Julia is a recent Rider University graduate, where she studied multiplatform journalism and social media strategies. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, trying new coffee shops, photography and the beach. She can be reached at juliatrainmedia@gmail.com or connect with her on Instagram @juliatrain
