Detroit Zoo Welcomes 7 New Rock-Hopping Residents

ROYAL OAK (WWJ) - The Detroit Zoo has some new tuxedo-clad residents on display: Seven rockhopper penguins from Chicago's Lincoln Park Zoo.

The Zoo announced Thursday that the four males and three females have joined other rockhopper, macaroni and king penguins at the Penguinarium.

Detroit Zoological Society Curator of Birds Tom Schneider says they will be comfortable.

"The Detroit Zoo is a great place for these birds because we have a lot of experience working with rockhoppers, and our penguin habitat provides

temperature and light conditions similar to their former home," said Tom Schneider. "This is especially important for the older penguins as it can sometimes be difficult for them to adjust to environmental changes."

Found in the steep terrain of the sub-Antarctic islands, the rockhopper penguin (Eudyptes chrysocome) gets its name from the way it hops from rock to rock. The rockhopper is among the world's smallest penguin species, standing up to 20 inches tall and weighing about 7 pounds. The black-and-white bird is distinguished by the crest of spiky yellow and black feathers that adorn its head. It has red eyes, a red-orange beak and pink webbed feet.

The new penguins arrived at the Detroit Zoo in December, but were under quarantine for 30 days.

The Zoo says it got the Chicago penguins after the Lincoln Park Zoo's seabird exhibit closed.

The Detroit Zoo remains open all year long. For Zoo hours and more information, call (248) 541-5717 or visit www.detroitzoo.org.