Which subspecies of rockhopper penguin is most widely exhibited in major North American facilities?
Southern Rockhopper Penguin
The vast majority of rockhopper penguins displayed in the major US institutions mentioned belong specifically to the Southern Rockhopper group. Although Eastern and Northern rockhoppers are recognized types with different geographical distributions in the wild, the Southern variety is the most commonly exhibited in these large North American facilities. This specialization suggests a dedicated focus within the Species Survival Plan for this particular subspecies at these accredited sites. Furthermore, specific zoos, like the Saint Louis Zoo, explicitly note that their residents are Southern Rockhoppers, highlighting the prevalence of this group in US conservation collections.

#Videos
Rock Hopper Penguins-Cincinnati Zoo - YouTube