FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance
Public Relations
619-685-3291
publicrelations@sdzwa.org
sdzwa.org

NEWS RELEASE

Endangered Penguin Residents Make a Splash at the San Diego Zoo Ahead of Holiday Weekend

SAN DIEGO (May 23, 2023) – The 25 African penguin residents of the Dan and Vi McKinney Penguin Habitat at the San Diego Zoo are starting their Memorial Day weekend festivities early by doing what penguins do best—swimming. The endangered birds, along with schools of sardines that share their habitat, zipped to and fro through the salty waters of a vast 275,000-gallon pool before eating breakfast and relaxing on the rocky beach. 

Guests can visit the Africa Rocks penguins and other amazing wildlife during Nighttime Zoo—an annual after-dark extravaganza where families explore the Zoo at night and enjoy a host of family friendly entertainment, live toe-tapping music and extraordinary summer treats, while learning more about wildlife from an unusual nighttime perspective. Nighttime Zoo runs May 26 through Sept. 4, with special activities scheduled daily from 4 to 9 p.m. (except June 17, when the Zoo closes at 5 p.m. for a special event). Nighttime Zoo activities and attractions are free with Zoo admission or membership. With every visit, guests become allies for wildlife—helping to support San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance's mission to save wildlife worldwide and help create a world where all life thrives. For more information about Nighttime Zoo, visit sdzwa.org. 

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About San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance
San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance is a nonprofit international conservation leader, committed to inspiring a passion for nature and working toward a world where all life thrives. The Alliance empowers people from around the globe to support their mission to conserve wildlife through innovation and partnerships. San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance supports cutting-edge conservation and brings the stories of their work back to the San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo Safari Park—giving millions of guests, in person and virtually, the opportunity to experience conservation in action. The work of San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance extends from San Diego to eco-regional conservation “hubs” across the globe, where their expertise and assets—including the renowned Wildlife Biodiversity Bank—are able to effectively align with hundreds of regional partners to improve outcomes for wildlife in more coordinated efforts. By leveraging these skills in wildlife care and conservation science, and through collaboration with hundreds of partners, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance has reintroduced more than 44 endangered species to native habitats. Each year, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance’s work reaches over 1 billion people in 150 countries via news media, social media, their websites, educational resources and the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Explorers television programming, which is in children’s hospitals in 13 countries. Success is made possible by the support of members, donors and guests to the San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo Safari Park, who are Wildlife Allies committed to ensuring all life thrives.