Polk Penguin Conservation Center opens to public

Jessica Kodanko, top right, of Grosse Pointe Park, looks at the penguins in the South American gallery with her son, Matthew Kodanko, 4, at the Polk Penguin Conservation Center.

Marzetta Hoskin, 23, of Detroit, points at a penguin with her son, Christian Jones, 1, in the acrylic underwater tunnel.

Visitors look at the penguins at the Polk Penguin Conservation Center.

Alexander Branon, 4, of Sterling Heights, points to penguins.

People walk through the acrylic underwater tunnel at the Polk Penguin Conservation Center.

Penguins swim through the water at the Polk Penguin Conservation Center.

Penguins strut their stuff for visitors at the Polk Penguin Conservation Center.

Detroit Zoological Society Executive Director and CEO Ron Kagan enjoys one of several underwater views at the new Polk Penguin Conservation Center at the Detroit Zoo in Royal Oak on April 13, 2016.

A penguin looks out a window.

The aquatic area is home to four types of penguins: Southern Rockhoppers, Macaroni, Gentoo and King.

The new habitat offers closer encounters with the curious penguins as well as a huge 326,000-gallon chilled aquatic area.

The Drake Passage on Shackleton's ship, the Endurance, is amazingly real; a little seasick inducing for some.

The Polk Penguin Conservation Center has 10 times the volume of water as the penguins' former habitat, the Penguinarium.

Penguins glide past the acrylic floor to ceiling viewing areas in the new habitat.

An April 13 media preview preceded the public opening on April 18 of the Polk Penguin Conservation Center at the Detroit Zoo in Royal Oak.

The new habitat features air temperatures at a near-freezing 37 degrees Fahrenheit but considerably warmer for the viewing public.

"The penguins are adapting well to their new home and appear to be discovering their many new opportunities for deep diving, porpoising and even sliding in the snow," said Detroit Zoo CEO Ron Kagan.

Penguins make their way up to one of the floor-to-ceiling windows, exploring their new habitat and the strange creatures on the other side of the window.

Media line up in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows at the Polk Penguin Conservation Center.

Two penguins play with a fake starfish in the 326,000 gallon aquatic area.

Up close and personal is the name of the game at the Polk Penguin Conservation Center.

Penguins explore their new habitat at the Polk Penguin Conservation Center at the Detroit Zoo.

Penguins explore their new habitat at the Polk Penguin Conservation Center at the Detroit Zoo.

Penguins explore their new habitat at the Polk Penguin Conservation Center at the Detroit Zoo.

A penguin plays with a fake starfish in the 326,000-gallon aquatic area.

Penguins explore their new habitat at the Polk Penguin Conservation Center at the Detroit Zoo.

Penguins explore their new habitat at the Polk Penguin Conservation Center at the Detroit Zoo.

The Polk Penguin Conservation Center has 10 times the volume of water as the penguins' former habitat, the Penguinarium.