African penguins Dan and McKinney seemed just as interested in the people as they were in the birds—they would often come up to the exhibit window, above and below the water, to interact with Zoo visitors.

Dan (left) is the quieter and calmer of the two brothers, according to their keepers, which McKinney (right) is more excitable and follows the keepers around to check out what they're doing.

African penguins are warm-weather penguins, native to the rocky coastlines of southern Africa. The African penguin is the most endangered penguin species, and when McKinney and Dan join the newcomers that will make up the colony at Conrad Prebys Africa Rocks, the Zoo's curators and keepers hope for breeding to help bolster the species population.

Dapper Penguin Brothers

In 2014, the San Diego Zoo welcomed penguins again—for the first time in 35 years! Not since the penguin exhibit near the Zoo’s entrance was replaced in the 1980s had visitors been able to see the comical little birds waddle on land and zip gracefully through water. Rock penguin brothers Dan and McKinney took up residence in an exhibit in the Children’s Zoo, remodeled just for them, which they would make their home until the new Penguin Beach habitat opens as part of the new Conrad Prebys Africa Rocks. The nattily feathered birds wasted no time winning new fans, who were thrilled to find them at the Zoo.

2014

End Extinction 2007 - 2016