African penguins get a new home at ARTIS
- 7 August 2026
After almost 70 years, the African penguins are getting a new home. The sea lion exhibit will be transformed into a varied penguin habitat with deep water, plenty of nesting sites and underwater windows where visitors can watch the birds ‘fly’ through the water.
From sea lions to penguins
Farewell to the California sea lions
After the summer holidays, the last three California sea lions will leave ARTIS. The current exhibit has limitations for marine mammals, but after a major renovation it will offer many opportunities for African penguins.
The design focuses on the penguins’ natural behaviour. Penguin keepers, the Birds team leader, an architect and the coordinator of the international conservation breeding programme are working together to create a habitat that meets their needs.
More space to swim and dive
African penguins are perfectly adapted to life in and around the water. In their current exhibit, they can swim a considerable distance, but the pool is not deep enough for extensive diving. The future pool will give them much more space to do so. There will also be enrichment activities in the water, including a bubble curtain and water jets that switch on at unexpected moments. These features encourage the penguins to explore their surroundings and stay active.
Watch penguins fly
One special feature of the new exhibit will be the windows below the water’s surface. Visitors will be able to see up close just how fast and agile the penguins are in the water. On land, penguins can sometimes look a little clumsy, but underwater their bodies are perfectly suited to movement. Their water repellent feathers keep them dry and their wings work like powerful paddles. They use their feet and tail to steer. It makes them look as if they are flying through the water.
Space for a large breeding colony
110 different nesting sites
The land area will also be completely redesigned. African penguins live in colonies and form individual breeding pairs within them. That is why the new habitat will have no fewer than 110 different nesting sites. This gives the penguins a choice of where they want to breed. The area will also have soft ground made partly from sand, as well as both sunny and shaded places.
To create as much space as possible for the animals, the building that currently houses the kitchen will be removed. Additional habitat will also be created on the visitor side.
An endangered penguin species
The African penguin is critically endangered. In the new habitat, visitors will not only discover the penguins above and below the water, but also learn about the story of their relatives in the wild.
Together with international zoos and conservation organisations, ARTIS works to protect the African penguin. In and around the habitat, visitors will discover the role zoos play in conservation and what people can do themselves to help create a better future for these remarkable seabirds.
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