ST. LOUIS ZOO TO OFFER FREE PUBLIC VIEWING OF PENGUINS AT CHILDREN'S ZOO ON MARCH 1 AND 2

What:	Public viewing of penguins "Pete" and "Penny," two visiting penguins

When:	Friday and Saturday, March 1 and 2

	1 to 5 p.m.

Where:	Children's Zoo, St. Louis Zoo

Details:  Children's Zoo free 1 to 5 p.m., March 1 and 2

A new polar exhibit for penguins and puffins, Penguin & Puffin Coast, is currently under construction at the St. Louis Zoo.  Set to open in 2003, Penguin & Puffin Coast will feature domed rockscapes and underwater viewing of gentoo penguins, rockhoppers and king penguins from the Southern Hemisphere, along with their comical counterparts from the North, horned and tufted puffins.  A third exhibit will house Humboldt penguins, an endangered species from Peru.  

To celebrate construction of the new home for penguins, always among zoogoers' favorite animals, the public is invited to greet two guest penguin visitors from SeaWorld Orlando, "Pete" and "Penny."  The two Magellanic penguins will be on view at Emerson Children's Zoo on Friday and Saturday, March 1 and 2, from 1 to 5 p.m.  The two-day visit by Pete, Penny and their keeper is made possible by SeaWorld Orlando and Busch Entertainment Corporation/Anheuser-Busch.

The penguin's visit is sponsored by North Star Ice Cream Specialties, Inc.  "Norton" the North Star penguin character will be on hand to greet visitors.  Also sponsoring is the Ritz-Carlton.

Children can take part in penguin crafts and activities on March 1 and 2.  Admission to the Children's Zoo will be free from 1 to 5 p.m. on those days.  Admission to the St. Louis Zoo is free.