Riverbanks has two kinds of Penguins, the Rockhoppers and the Black Foot. Rockhoppers are found around the Faukland Islands, South America and Australia, but the Black Foot are much more rare. They are only found off the coast of South Africa. Black Foot Penguins are what is known as a controlled population. Because of their rarity, the gene pool of these penguins in captivity must be monitored to prevent inbreeding.
Penguins can develop foot problems from walking on the wrong kind of surfaces.
This condition is similar to corns. They can become infected and cause health problems. For this reason, the new habitat is floored with a special decking that is spongy and smooth. Zoos around the world share information on the species they have, to keep the the gene pools clean. They may trade, lend or even give away some birds to expand the gene options.