Ripley’s Entertainment is planning a $5 million expansion to the popular Aquarium of the Smokies in Gatlinburg. The first permanent expansion to the facility in ten years will house about 20 African black-footed penguins. The indoor-outdoor Penguin Playhouse will hold 30,000 gallons of saltwater and include tunnels for visitors and penguins to view one another.
The African Penguin (Spheniscus demersus) is found on the south-western coast of Africa. Because of their donkey-like braying call they were previously named Jackass Penguins. Since several species of South American penguins produce the same sound, the African species has been renamed African Penguin, as it is the only penguin species that breeds in Africa.
Ticket packages for Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies are available at www.smr.travel, or by calling 1-888-482-7829.
Tags: Attractions, Gatlinburg, Ripley's