At-risk penguins making splash in big new pool

England’s biggest penguin pool has been unveiled, and the residents are making a splash in their new home at London Zoo.

The zoo’s original Grade I listed penguin building dating from 1934 was replaced by a small, more natural pool eight years ago, but now a 1,200 sq metre pool which is four times bigger and three times deeper than their last home has opened.

Some 65 humboldt, macaroni, blackfooted and rockhopper penguins – all of which are at risk in the wild – have already moved in and the Zoologicial Society of London (ZSL) hopes there will eventually be a 200-strong breeding colony.

A hand-rearing unit, complete with its own penguin paddling pool for chicks to get used to the water in, is already in use, with two month-old chicks being looked after in the facility.

The new pool has underwater viewing areas, where visitors can see the flightless birds in their element, burrows going into nesting boxes and landscaping which mimics the penguin’s southern hemisphere habitats.

Birds at the facility get through 25 kg to 35 kg of fish a day, which the zoo has sustainably sourced as part of its commitment to marine conservation.

The introduction of new species to the zoo, which previously only had blackfooted and rockhopper penguins, aims to highlight the work of ZSL’s “penguinologist”, Tom Hart, who is conducting research into Antarctic penguins such as macaronis.

Dr Hart said penguins were under threat from climate change, fisheries and pollution while there were concerns they could also become more at risk from disease as warming temperatures forced the birds to shift their ranges.