Welcome to Penguin Coast

Welcome to Penguin Coast. .

"There are birds as big as ducks but they cannot fly and they bray like asses."

This description of African penguins , the earliest known , was written in 1497 by a crew member accompanying the famed Portuguese explorer, Vasco de Gama, around the southern tip of Africa. The writer noticed the birds' unique call, which has since earned them the nicknames "jackass penguin" and "beach donkey.", Look down to appreciate their other name: black-footed penguins, Survival in the Wild , For centuries, African penguins have been harassed by humans. , The long list of threats introduced by humans includes: hunting, egg collection, guano harvesting, overfishing of penguin prey, and environmental pollution, including oil spills., Research and Conservation , Knowledge fuels action. , In recent decades, science has greatly increased our knowledge of AFrican penguins and their survival needs. Efforts are now being made worldwide, including here at The Maryland Zoo, to protect endangered African penguins before they become extinct., Maryland Zoo Connection , Given the chance, nature is resilient , and so are African penguins. , On some offshore islands where wild African penguins breed, old buildings serve new purpose. They now shelter penguins looking to escape the wind and sun The architecture of this exhibit was inspired by those old buildings.