Penguins part of welcome as Calgary Zoo partially reopens after flood
Wednesday, July 31, 2013, 3:26 PM -
The popular penguin plunge is one of the first exhibits to reopen at the Calgary Zoo since heavy damage caused by last month's flooding.
File photo of a Gentoo penguin at the Calgary Zoo (courtesy: Calgary Reviews/Flickr)
Zoo spokeswoman Trish Exton-Parder says the northern section of the zoo -- about 30 per cent -- is now open to the public. The rest won't be open until December.
The zoo was forced to move 160 animals to higher ground at the height of the flood.
Exton-Parder says the disaster has cost the zoo $50 million in damage and lost revenue of $160,000 a day.
The zoo has also been forced to close a couple of exhibits and relocate the animals.
"It's reopening day today and we can't wait to see you," the Calgary Zoo posted on its Facebook page on Wednesday.
"About a third of the zoo will be open. That's a capacity of 2,500 people. There may be lineups, so please have patience with us. See you soon!"
