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Location
Visitor tip
Time your bear viewing for when they're active and swimming rather than resting. Bears at Bear Country spend significant time lounging, so plan to visit during mid-day or after feeding times when they're more likely to be in the water or moving around for the best photo opportunities.
Visitor tip
Penguin Point is the standout exhibit at the venue—prioritize visiting the 125,000 gallon pool to see Humboldt penguins swimming underwater, then observe them in their nesting burrows on land. This dual-viewing experience is considered one of the best penguin exhibits in the region.
Best time
The pool water at Penguin Point is actively chilled during summer months to maintain comfortable conditions for the birds, making it an excellent exhibit to visit during hot Philadelphia summers when other outdoor areas may be uncomfortable.
Quick Facts
- Type
- Zoo
- Main Exhibits
- Bear Country, Penguin Point
- Notable Feature
- 125,000 gallon penguin pool with underwater viewing
What visitors say
Welcome to Bear Country at the Philadelphia Zoo, where the fur is thick, the naps are long, and the snack game is strong! Our grizzlies and spectacled bears rule their rocky, forested habitat with a mix of lazy lounging and playful…
Penguin Point, situated in the former polar bear enclosure, is the best penguin exhibit anywhere! Over a dozen Humboldt penguins have a 125,000 gallon pool which allows kids (and adults) to see the birds swimming under water. The pool…
I am building the new Bear country Habitat
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Did You Know?
- Penguin Point features a 125,000 gallon pool for Humboldt penguins and was created in the former polar bear enclosure, representing a significant habitat reimagining after the polar bears' passing in 2015 and 2018
- Bear Country exhibits both grizzly bears and spectacled bears in a shared rocky, forested habitat within the Philadelphia Zoo
- Penguin Point offers dual viewing experiences with both underwater viewing of swimming Humboldt penguins and visible nesting burrows for above-ground observation
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