At Underwater World Langkawi, there are rainforest, temperate and sub-Antarctic ecosystems.
You can now watch penguins swimming in their natural habitat through the underwater tunnel at the penguinarium.
Here's an excerpt taken from the leading newspaper, The Star.
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Penguin Alive In Langkawi!
Take in Antartica at the Underwater World
The penguinarium at Underwater World Langkawi (UWL), which has an underwater tunnel from which visitors can watch penguins swimming, is now ready to be opened.
Eden Enterprises (M) Sdn Bhd executive chairman Tan Sri Abdul Rahim Mohamad said, a sub-Antartic ecosystem had been created at the newly-opened RM33mil building at UWL.
"We have 38 penguins to amuse visitors. We are in the process of acquiring 12 more." he said.
He said the sub-Antartic landscape was an attraction because not many people had the opportunity to visit Antartica.
"We bring a piece of Antartica to people who cannot go there. They can view the adorable penguins while enjoying the tropical paradise in Langkawi." Abdul Rahim said.
He said other crowd-pulling species such as the anaconda, pacu (a cousin of the flesh-eating piranha), harbour seals, and marmoset were also exhibited at UWL.
"Apart from the temperature and sub-Antartic section, we have also created the tropical rainforest section where we display the electric eel, arowana and the arapaima (which is among the largest freshwater fish in the world)", he said.
"We have also placed information kiosks and information panels in the new building to provide visitors with information on marine, aquatic and wild life in tropical rainforest, temperate and sub-Antartic ecosystems." Abdul Rahim said.
He said the company's ultimate aim was to make UWL an educational and research centre.
The Star - Thursday, 9 June 2005
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Underwater World Langkawi latest residents are 20 Rockhopper penguins from Nightingale Island, some 2,000km west of South Africa. The birds cost about RM26,600 each, excluding insurance and shipping charges.
The sub-Antarctic section showcase the Rockhopper penguins while the temperate section will house the Black-footed penguins and seals.
The new Underwater World Langkawi will display the Amazonian, sub-Antarctic and Antarctic ecosystems and house a three-dimensional (3D) theatre with a 200-seating capacity.
Penguinarium Underwater Tunnel Fact
Glass was not used to make the underwater tunnel as it cannot bend. A China-based factory was paid to manufacture and assemble acrylic panels for the tunnel and other displays for the penguinarium.
The feeding time at 11am and 3.30pm daily are the best moments to watch the penguins march as they follow the keeper carrying a pail full of fish. It's fun to see one of the animal keeper, Azizah Mustaffa feeding the penguins at the same time.
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