Holly Fournier

The Detroit News

Almost 1.7 million visitors flocked to the Detroit Zoo last year, setting an attendance record as the facility opened its new penguin exhibit, presented its annual holiday light display, and maintained other attractions, according to officials.

A total of 1,698,053 people passed through the zoo's Royal Oak gates in 2016, busting the projected goal of 1.5 million, zoo officials said in a release Wednesday. This marked the 11th consecutive year that zoo attendance topped one million visitors.

"The highly anticipated opening of the Polk Penguin Conservation Center, coupled with great weather for most of the year, an expanded Wild Lights display and continued improvements in operations and facilities are all contributing factors to our record-breaking numbers,” said Ron Kagan, executive director and CEO of the Detroit Zoological Society, which operates the zoo and the Belle Isle Nature Center.

“We thank the community for another fantastic year and look forward to providing even more outstanding experiences in 2017.”

The penguins were the belles of the 2016 ball, according to zoo figures. More than 1 million people explored the aquatic birds' new exhibit in its first six months of operation.

The 33,000-square-foot Polk Penguin Conservation Center opened in April and features a 326,000-gallon, 25-foot-deep pool for more than 80 penguins from four species. It is the largest penguin facility in the world, officials said.

Rounding out the busy year was Wild Lights, the zoo's annual display presented by Bank of America, which drew a record 152,539 guests.

The new year is packed with projects, attractions and events, officials said.

A winter ice skating rink is open through the end of February for guests aged 4 and older, with skate rentals available for $7 per 25-minute session. Rink time is $3 for those who bring their own skates, officials said.

Meanwhile, giraffes and tigers will get renovated and expanded habitats this year, thanks to $1 million gifts from Cynthia and Edsel Ford and the Richard C. Devereaux Foundation, respectively.

Several new events are planned along with "returning favorites," including Zoo Boo and Wild Lights.

One of the new events, an inaugural Conservation Gala, is a planned 21-and-older black-tie celebration in March, aimed to highlight the zoological society's conservation efforts worldwide.

The Detroit Zoo is run by the zoological society, providing year-round educational, recreational and environmental opportunities, officials said. It covers 125 acres of naturalistic habitats that are home to 2,400 animals from 255 species.

For hours, prices, directions and other information, go online or call (248) 541-5717.