Get ready to waddle into fun at the Brookfield Zoo's Penguin Encounter! Come face-to-face with these adorable birds as you learn about their behaviors and habitats. Don't miss your chance to snap a photo with a penguin and discover the vital conservation efforts underway to protect these fascinating creatures.

Get up close and personal with the Humboldt penguins at The Living Coast habitat! As a part of the Penguin Encounter experience, you will be able to watch them swim and play in their natural environment, interact with these fascinating birds and learn all about what they like to eat and how they interact with other. 

You'll also discover the critical conservation work the zoo is doing to protect these remarkable creatures at Punta San Juan in Peru. It’s a hands-on experience for the whole family and an excellent opportunity to learn about the impact of this vital conservation work.  Don't miss your chance to make memories and make a difference by participating in a Penguin Encounter at The Living Coast habitat.

Humboldt penguins, also known as Peruvian penguins, are a species of penguin that inhabit the coastal regions of Peru and Chile in South America. They have a distinctive black band on their chest and a black patch around their eyes. They are relatively small, with a height of around 28 inches and a weight of 6-8 pounds. 

Humboldt penguins are social birds that live in large colonies and can often be seen swimming and diving in the ocean. They feed mainly on anchovies, sardines, and other small fish, and they spend most of their time in the water, coming ashore only to breed and raise their young. Humboldt penguins are considered vulnerable due to habitat loss, pollution, and overfishing of their food sources.

Your arrival 

The Penguin Encounter room is located in The Living Coast habitat, just beyond the Rocky Shores penguin habitat near the building exit. A penguin keeper will be present in the encounter room 15 minutes before your scheduled encounter. To show respect for the other participants, please arrive on time. 

Once the penguins enter the encounter room, entry will not be permitted. During the encounter, you will learn about the Humboldt penguins' life at the zoo, their behavior, exciting facts, and how to interact safely with them.

Penguin arrival

During the Penguin Encounter, the penguins will be accompanied by a second keeper, and participants will have the opportunity to interact with the birds. Each penguin has its own unique personality and preferences, and they are free to interact with whomever they choose. This means that while some penguins may be more friendly and eager to interact with participants, others may be more reserved or independent. 

Please note the safety and well-being of the penguins are always the top priority. Participants will be guided and instructed on how to interact with them safely and appropriately.

During the penguin encounter

During the Penguin Encounter, one keeper will guide the penguin through the group of participants while the other keeper will share information about the conservation efforts in Punta San Juan, Peru, which are focused on protecting penguins in the wild. 

The penguins are not forced to participate in the encounter but instead are given the opportunity to walk from their exhibit to the encounter room. They may be a little shy initially, but most warm up quickly! Please note that you are welcome to take pictures without a flash. 

Penguins waddle back

As the Penguin Encounter comes to a close, the penguins will say goodbye to the guests and waddle back to their exhibit to be with their friends. The staff will be available to answer any remaining questions. As a fun challenge, participants are encouraged to try and remember the color of the penguin's wing band and then see if you can identify it among the flock in the exhibit. 

This will be an excellent opportunity to test your observation skills and continue learning more about the individual penguins. The staff will be happy to assist you in identifying the penguins you interacted with and answer any further questions.

Length: Approximately 30 minutes, depending on the number of guest participants.

Cost: $40 per person

Age: Participants must be at least 5 years old; an adult must accompany children between the ages of 5 and 18.

Maximum Group Size: 20 Participants

Service Animals: For the safety of the animals and other guests, service animals are not allowed in the Penguin Encounter room. With advance notice, reasonable accommodations can be made.

• During the program, you will be in close proximity to deep water. However, swimming is not allowed. 

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• Pay close attention to the guidance and instructions of the care staff, as the animals you will encounter are still wild, and their behavior can be unpredictable.

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• Always follow instructions and receive authorization from the Animal Care Specialist before approaching any animals during the adventure.

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• Participants are required to sign a liability waiver.

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• Please fill out the entire registration form, including boot size. It is recommended that you bring your own socks, though some will be provided if needed.

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• Because adequate communication is crucial when working with animals, the zoo requires that you can read, speak, and understand English without the need for an interpreter. If you require an interpreter, please contact (708) 688-8338, and they will be happy to assist you.

The Brookfield Zoo is a 235-acre cultural institution in the near west suburbs. The world-renowned destination attracts visitors from near and far for its cutting-edge role in animal care and conservation of the natural world. 

The zoo houses more than 2,500 animals and gained international attention for using moats and ditches for containment instead of cages. It was also one of the first zoos in the country to exhibit giant pandas. The Brookfield Zoo is home to the nation's first fully indoor dolphin exhibit and the first fully indoor rainforest simulation. 

A trip to the zoo is fun and memorable for people of all ages. 

However, if visiting the zoo is something you plan to do more than once a year, most people opt to become members. There are a variety of different membership packages to meet the needs of individuals and families. 

They include:

Basic – includes zoo admission and parking at the main entrance.

Plus – includes basic benefits plus tickets to attractions you choose.

Unlimited – includes basic benefits plus admission to all attractions on every visit and parking at both entrances.

Plus, every member receives the following:

Free admission for one year

Free parking for one vehicle at the main entrance (1st Ave. and 31st Street)

Member discounts on selected attractions inside the zoo

Publications including member emails and Gateways, the quarterly member magazine

Restaurant discounts

Education program and special event discounts

Zoo Hours

Weekdays 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Weekends 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.