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Okay, it’s one of those project titles that you read in the “Official Call for Bids” and you think, “Huh?”  And, of course, for those of you that know me or have read some of my other blogs, you know that my mind is a little warped and so when I saw the project title I started to visualize penguins in dire need of medical assistance.

The Oregon Zoo is home to more than 35 Humboldt penguins.  These aren’t the penguins you saw in the movie “Happy Feet” and the exhibit doesn’t have concrete islands painted white to resemble ice flows.  These penguins are in a warm, barren, rocky replication of the coast of North Peru.  To prevent the penguin’s feet from being cut or scraped, the gunite and real rocks and the major walkways have been covered with a rubberized material, kind of like the stuff you find on running tracks.  The exhibit is heated to 70 degrees, a wave machine generates surf action, and Jacuzzi-type jets simulate ocean currents.  It’s a proverbial penguin resort.

Proposals from qualified architectural and engineering firms are due December 3rd for improving the infrastructure and conserving water by upgrading the penguin exhibit life support systems.  The new systems will provide excellent water quality for animal husbandry (penguin ‘relationships’) and will provide clean, clear water for public viewing of the penguins.  At this time, the pool holds 25,000 gallons of water and is dumped weekly for water clarity.  The water from the existing pool skimmers runs continuously, going into the City sewer, creating a huge amount of water use.

Humboldt penguins are an endangered species and less than 20,000 now exist in the wild.  The Oregon Zoo is one of only a few zoos in the country that has a breeding program for them.  In fact, the Oregon Zoo holds the regional studbook (‘Little Black Book’?) on the penguins.  This helps to avoid the possibility of genetic defects.

I admit that I was one that was a little hesitant about the bond money for improving Zoo infrastructure. However,  it seems that the money is being spent on very important projects and is helping the Zoo to live up to its Mission Statement, “Inspiring our community to create a better future for wildlife.”