The Cincinnati Zoo's newest outdoor exhibit is open. Roo Valley features two types of kangaroos and penguins in an environmentally efficient habitat.
More than 30 little blue penguins will be swimming through a tank filled with recovered rainwater heated and cooled with a geothermal well system. The zoo says visitors will be able to walk among the kangaroos as well.
"The animal staff was instrumental during the design phase of Roo Valley and, as a result, enrichment opportunities have been built into the habitats," the zoo writes in a release. "For the penguins, this includes fans, misters, sprinklers, underwater jets, heat lamps, heated rocks, multiple substrates, and underwater elements that create a complex environment. All of these promote natural behaviors for overall optimal health and wellbeing."
Reservations are required to enter the zoo because of the pandemic.
The area includes a craft beer garden and an ADA-accessible ropes course will open in 2021. The new area was funded by the zoo's More Home to Roam campaign.
Click on the image at the top of the page to see additional pictures.
