Take on the journey through a world of wildlife as Melbourne Zoo will be launching a brand new little penguin experience in August 2017. This encounter will see you venture behind the scenes of the popular zoo for an intimate encounter with these adorable animals and be introduced to Miss Wing, the special Australian Little Penguin born on 2 January 2015 and hand reared in the zoo.
Miss Wing is a very special little penguin who is happy to call Melbourne Zoo home. When Miss Wing hatched, her sister was getting all the food from mum and dad, so poor Miss Wing was becoming seriously underweight. Her keepers decided that they would need to look after her to ensure she would grow up healthy and strong. The keepers worked 12-hour days to keep it nourished, with the first feed of slivered pilchard fillets at 7:30am and the last feed at 7:30pm.
After several months in the care of her keepers, she was reintroduced to the rest of the penguin colony. The zoo keepers at Melbourne Zoo built Wings World which gives her the choice to spend time with her keepers or to spend time with other penguins. The prolonged time she spent with the keepers as a chick has meant she is now imprinted on people and often chooses to spend time with her keepers. Miss Wing is now very much a favourite and vocal member of the Melbourne Zoo family who loves meeting new people.
Miss Wing has become an amazing Ambassador animal, spending part of her time out in the Penguin Exhibit at Wild Sea with the rest of the group, but with the option of coming into the office area when she wants to socialise with the keepers.
Visitors can easily spot Miss Wing when she is in the main pool area in Melbourne Zoo, as both her armbands are white: coloured armbands are used to identify individuals. The experience will include private penguin keeper talk, behind the scenes access, photo opportunities, interactivity with Miss Wing and her keeper.
Melbourne Zoo is a successful breeder of Australian Little Penguins, sending some to other zoos, interstate and overseas, to support breeding programs for these fascinating flightless birds. Meeting the penguins at Melbourne Zoo is an important way to connect with the animals of Australia, and to learn about the Zoo’s conservation programs.
The Penguin Experience commence from 1st August 2017.
Where: Melbourne Zoo, Elliott Ave, Parkville VIC 3052
Time: 10:20am
Ticket cost: $63 – $81
Operating days: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday
For more information, kindly visit: https://www.zoo.org.au/