Direct from their previous home at the Flamingo Hotel in sunny Las Vegas, African penguins moved into their new exhibit in the Wilds of Africa at the Dallas Zoo.

“We think these penguins will be very popular,” said Chris Brown, curator of birds. “They are one of the few birds with which humans identify. They walk on their hind legs, have fun personalities, and feature interesting vocalizations that sound like donkeys braying, which led to their nickname -- jackass penguins.”

Native to the temperate climates of Namibia and South Africa, the penguins do not require a habitat with extensive air conditioning and refrigeration systems. They prefer temperatures from 50 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit, so the water in their pool is cooled in the summer and warmed in the winter. Fans, misting systems, and shade from trees and building structures keep them at a comfortable temperature year-round.

Awkward on land and unable to fly, these 18-inch-tall birds are extraordinarily graceful swimmers. Their dense coats of small oil-coated feathers look like fur and protect them underwater. Their black backs and light bellies camouflage them while swimming.

“They may not fly in the air, but these birds fly underwater,” Brown said, describing the penguins’ underwater aerobatics of sharp curves, tight turns, and dives.