MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The Milwaukee County Zoo kicked off a construction project for a new addition to the penguin's habitat on March 27.
The groundbreaking ceremony, featuring zoo and county leaders, marks a major housing upgrade for the zoo's Humboldt penguins.
Money for the project came from a Wisconsin Department of Administration grant, which was funded by the American Rescue Plan Act.
County Executive David Crowley was at the event, and he said the penguins are deserving of the upgrade.
"I don't know about you, but our penguins work hard," said Crowley. "You probably had to view that when they stepped in, actually, on Groundhog Day to say that we were going to have an early spring, so I don't know about you, but I think they deserve a new habitat."
The Milwaukee County Zoo is one of the 21 zoos across America taking care of Humboldt penguins, their habitat is set to be completed this winter.