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- SEA LIFE, Polar Adventure
Meet the coolest colony!
'Penguin Point’ is a magical opportunity to get to know our amazing Gentoo Penguins! Gentoos are the third largest species of Penguin in the world after the Emperor and Kings.
Feel the chill
The Gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis papua) is the third largest species of penguin, with only the Emperor and King penguins being larger. They are the fastest species of penguin, capable of reaching speeds of 22mph underwater.
Winter is coming!
During the winter months, you will notice that the lights in our penguin enclosure will be in low light or going into a sunset cycle of reds and that the penguins will be settling in for a night’s sleep. This is to ensure we closely match the conditions found in the Southern Hemisphere – where Gentoo penguins are found. The variation in light cycles and temperature is designed to encourage their natural seasonal behaviour including a yearly moult, nesting, and breeding. At this time of year, that means the sun sets earlier at Penguin Point. This practice is based on years of worldwide experience in maintaining the best possible conditions and to ensure that Gentoo penguins breed successfully.
Love is in the air
The Gentoo Penguin is monogamous, so two penguins will pair for a breeding season and share all the responsibilities of nest building, nest guarding, egg incubation and the rearing of offspring equally, and they are found to bow to each other to cement their pair-bond. It is not uncommon for penguins to mate for life, but on average a pair will stay together for around three breeding seasons before finding a new partner.
Penguins are playful!
They love to slide down icy patches on their bellies and take turns to dive into the ocean. Did you know their black and white pattern is a form of camouflage? It helps them blend in with the water and keep safe from predators.
Chilly Facts!
Guess what?!
Penguin poo is called ‘guano’!
Did you know?
Some Penguins come from very warm climates close to the equator. For example the Humboldt Penguin is found living on the coastline in Peru and Chile!
How about that!
Other species such as Emperors, Kings and Gentoos live in one of the coldest, harshest places on the planet; Antarctica!
Wow!
Gentoo penguins are nest builders, and they build their nests out of pebbles to lay their eggs into.
Feathers off
The Gentoo’s go through a process called a "catastrophic moult". Once a year they lose all their feathers all in one go, and replace them with a brand new set. During this period, they may not eat for around 2 weeks. They eat lots of extra food and gain a lot of weight beforehand to make sure they have adequate energy reserves for this process.
Let's swim
Penguins are found almost exclusively in the southern hemisphere. They are ‘flightless’ birds but they can soar through the water like a torpedo to catch fish! They eat fish, squid and shrimp in the wild. The colour in the shrimp they eat is what makes their feet and beaks orange. They also They feed their chicks by regurgitating partially digested food straight into their mouths. YUCK!
Penguins in danger
Over half of all penguin species are listed as endangered. Penguin populations are threatened by oil spills, bycatch, overfishing, habitat loss and climate change.
There are a number of threats to Gentoo penguins in particular - namely unsustainable fishing practices depleting their food sources and marine pollution (causing them to ingest plastics).
To help our feathered friends, be sure to choose sustainable seafood and reduce single use plastic by switching to reusable products.
Life in the cold
Gentoos in the wild live in one of the harshest landscapes on the planet, so this species is specially adapted to life in the cold. Their body is covered in an insulating layer of blubber and they eat lots of fish to maintain it. They also have a layer of woolly, insulating feathers covered by a second layer of smooth, waterproof feathers which helps to keep the warm in and the cold water out. Our penguin home has been specially designed to keep Gentoo Penguins cool and comfortable.
Penguin Ice Adventure
Travel to the frozen extremities of the Antarctic and experience life with a colony of Gentoo Penguins.
Discover what penguins get up to in the colony
Hear the unmistakeable trumpeting sound of the Gentoo and learn about their quirky antics as they dive, splash, and goof about under the water, or take some time out to relax or tend to their nests on…
WOW Fact!
Our penguins, which are classified as near-threatened on the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Red List, travelled halfway around the world to play and swim in their brand new,…
Gentoo penguin breeding programme
Since the arrival of the colony in 2014, the team have been working hard to ensure the conditions are perfect for the penguins to breed.
Online from
£29.50
Per adult
On the day
£33
Per adult
- Entry at your chosen 15-minute time slot
- Discover species from around the world in 14 themed zones and interact with them at with our public feeding, diving displays and touch pools
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Plan ahead and book tickets online
Save time and money by booking your attraction tickets in advance
- Enjoy great savings versus on the day/peak times
- Guaranteed admission on your chosen date
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- Instant ticket (show the ticket on your Mobile device or as a printout)
Online from
£43
Per adult
- Arrive at any time on the day of your choice
- Discover over 500 species from every part of the world in 14 themed zones over 3 floors
- Reschedule for free up to 24 hours prior to arrival if your plans change
