Australian Shores: What to expect at Albuquerque BioPark Zoo's new exhibit

People no longer have to leave the Land of Enchantment to experience the Land Down Under.

On July 30, the Albuquerque BioPark Zoo unveiled its newest zoo exhibit, the Australian Shores. The exhibit is home to small penguins, ducks and colorful birds native to Australia.

The exhibit is part of a 15-year facility plan to update and renovate the zoo funded by a 2016 voter approved ⅛ cent gross receipts tax. The tax is expected to garner $255 million for the BioPark over 15 years. The Australian Shores project cost $14 million.

Construction for Australian Shores began in early spring of 2022.

There are plans for a second phase of the exhibit that will include a walkthrough outback experience with kangaroos, wombats, Tasmanian devils and other Australian animals. Construction for that phase is expected to begin in the winter and is estimated to take 14 months, according to the Biopark. That phase of the project will cost about $11 million.

During a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new exhibit, Mayor Tim Keller said he hoped the renovations to the BioPark would allow families more places to spend time and build community.

“In some ways, many of us grew up at the zoo,” said Keller. “It’s one of the few places we all have in common and a place all of us can come together as a family.”

Keller also said that according to a study, the zoo is the most visited place in the state with roughly one million visitors each year.

“We can fundamentally uplift the city by making more family-oriented places,” he said.

Future plans to the zoo include catwalk renovations, a Mexican wolves exhibit and an expansion to the alligator and snapping turtle habitat. Keller said there are also planned renovations to Heritage Farm at the Botanic Garden.

In the newest zoo exhibit, guests can be treated to a “Down Under” Australian experience.

Visitors will have the opportunity to view a variety of bird species, including “little penguins” in an underwater viewing tunnel. They are the smallest species of penguins and are about the size of a water bottle. Eight species of Australian native ducks will accompany the penguins in the 310,000 gallon space.

The viewing tunnel will lead guests to the top of the penguin tank with a bridge leading to the next section of the exhibit. A Lorikeet habitat connects to the Australian Shores exhibit. For select days, the zoo will offer a “Lorikeet Experience,” where guests can pay $4 to enter the habitat and interact with the colorful Australian birds.

Aboriginal artwork and artifacts lay along the pathway of the exhibit with information boxes on the Indigenous Australian people. Items like shields, didgeridoos and ceremonial smoking boxes will sit near the Australian birds.

According to director of the BioPark, Brandon Gibson, the zoo partnered with Aboriginal consultants to ensure proper representation of their heritage.

Guests at the park were excited to be the first to see the new exhibit. Children including Aurora Marcelli were particularly pleased to learn there were more animals to learn about and interact with.

“I really like that they added penguins,” she said. “I like getting to watch them swim around. I didn’t know the zoo was adding more penguins but when I found out, I was really excited.”

Other people like Juana Phillips and her family were enthusiastic to have the opportunity to interact with the animals on a closer level.

“It’s a great exhibit and I think this (Lorikeet exhibit) is a unique experience,” she said. “It’s nice to be able to interact with the animals.”