PRESS ROOM

ROYAL OAK, Mich., 

The Detroit Zoological Society (DZS) will host a presentation by world-renowned polar ecologist and penguin expert Dr. Bill Fraser 6-7:15 p.m. on Sunday, April 10, at the Detroit Zoo’s Ford Education Center.

The presentation, “A Natural Experiment Reveals the Secret World of Gentoo Penguins”, will explore Dr. Fraser’s four decades of research as head of the Polar Oceans Research Group, which operates out of the U.S. Palmer Research Station in Antarctica. Dr. Fraser and his team of scientists and support staff – which this year included DZS staff – have made many discoveries about the Antarctic ecosystem and the impacts of climate change.

The talk is open to the public but, due to limited seating, tickets must be reserved in advance. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased at www.detroitzoo.org under “events”. All proceeds will benefit the Polar Oceans Research Group.

The western Antarctica peninsula is one of the fastest-warming regions on Earth, and research on penguin life histories has provided a unique window for understanding the mechanisms through which changes have affected virtually all aspects of Antarctic food webs and sea ice.

The work of the Polar Oceans Research Group is supported by the DZS and the National Science Foundation.

Dr. Fraser has served as an advisor on the development of the Polk Penguin Conservation Center, which opens April 18 at the Detroit Zoo. As the largest facility for penguins in the world, the penguin center features a 326,000-gallon, 25-foot-deep aquatic area where visitors can watch more than 80 penguins of four species explore their habitat. An underwater gallery and two acrylic underwater tunnels provide views as the birds swim and soar at depths of up to 25 feet.