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SeaWorld San Diego's emperor penguins moving to Florida
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — While SeaWorld San Diego was once able to boast the theme park was the only place you could see emperor penguins in the Western Hemisphere, that distinction now goes to SeaWorld Orlando.
SeaWorld San Diego sent off its emperor penguins to SeaWorld Orlando, which will be debuting the birds on June 14 at its Antarctica Realm habitat.
It is unclear if or when the penguins will return to San Diego. FOX 5/KUSI's reporting partners at the San Diego Union-Tribune say SeaWorld San Diego is going to be reimagining its Penguin Encounter exhibit.
SeaWorld San Diego had long been able to claim the title of the only place in the Western Hemisphere to see emperor penguins — the largest of all penguins.
Emperor Penguin chick becomes first to hatch at SeaWorld San Diego in 13 years
Since making history in the 1980s with the world's then only successful emperor penguin breeding facility outside of Antarctica, SeaWorld San Diego has since hatched and raised more than 20 emperor penguins, including most recently in 2023, according to the park.
All 18 species of penguin are legally protected from hunting and egg collecting.
Penguins are vulnerable to habitat destruction, overfishing, ecological disasters such as oil spills, ocean pollution, and human encroachment into nesting areas.
In celebration of the aquatic birds heading to Florida, downtown Orlando has three giant penguin art installations you can find around the city through June 19.
Annual Pass Members were able to get early access to see the emperor penguins at SeaWorld Orlando on June 12 and 13 ahead of their Saturday debut.
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