Penguin Walk back on at the Calgary Zoo

Their webbed feet were made for walking, and that's just what they'll do every day the weather allows, at the Calgary Zoo.

The daily Penguin Walk begins again Saturday, at 11 a.m., featuring the zoo's colony of kings.

Dr. Malu Celli, curator of animal care at the Calgary Zoo, says the walks are part of the animals' enrichment program.

"The penguins absolutely love it," she said. "It helps with their exercise, with seeing something different, and it's wonderful for us to be able to bring them close to guests so they fall in love with them as much as we do."

Weather limitations

Certain weather conditions could limit the walks it has to be above25 C but no warmer than 5 C.

"These are sub-Antarctic penguins. So above 5 C, things are not so good for them. We are concerned with health issues, with things they could breathe if they are outside at this temperature, so we bring them in," said Celli.

"And at 25 C, it can he hard for some of our elder birds, and also hard for people who want to come here and stand for a long time waiting to see them. It's also important for us, if it's really windy, we would not run the walk because the wind moves a lot of particles thepenguins can breathe and it can make them sick."

The 15-minute daily walks start at Penguin Plunge, looping to the Discovery Trail Bridge and back to the penguin habitat.

After seven years, the walks are still quite popular and can attract large crowds.

"I think people really appreciate seeing the penguins to see them outside their habitat and see them walking right beside them," said Celli.

One-degree difference challenge

Zoo officials are also using the annual launch to urge visitors to make a small change.

"What we're asking everybody to do this year is the one-degree difference challenge. So we're asking them to lower their thermostat by one degree and layer up, kind of like the penguins do," said Celli.

"By doing that, we'll use less energy and will help sub-Antarctic species and Antarctic species, which are hugely affected by climate change."

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