Nearly a year later, the Magellanic penguins, one of the most popular inhabitants of the LisbonOceanarium, now have a new home. ‘Southern Ocean’ was the name given to the most recent habitat, which houses 29 Magellanic penguins and 12 Inca terns.
In a statement sent to Lisboa Secreta, Oceanário de Lisboa describes the new space as being “wider, more natural and full of surprises for those who come to visit”.
Among other novelties, the following stand out: dives closer to the public, waterfalls that recreate scenes from the sub-Antarctic coast, wave simulation and nests prepared for each pair of penguins.
“An immersion bath”
As mentioned above, from the ground floor, visitors can follow the penguins’ dives, side by side with sharks and other species.
We want every visitor to experience an unforgettable encounter with the penguins and feel transported to the Southern Ocean. This is the first step towards educating and conserving – creating connections, because no one protects what they don’t know,” says Roque Cunha Ferreira, CEO of Oceanário de Lisboa, quoted in a press release.
The origin of the name ‘Blue Ocean’
This new ‘home’ for the Magellanic penguins marks the first major reconstruction of one of the original habitats of the Lisbon Oceanarium, which opened in 1998.
The name ‘Blue Ocean’ comes from the fact that, since 2000, the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) has officially recognized the Blue Ocean as the fifth ocean basin, alongside the Atlantic, Pacific, Indian and Arctic.
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