Penguin Walk returns to Calgary Zoo on Monday, depending on weather

The Calgary Zoo's king penguins are going to start getting some daily exercise out and about among the visitors.

Every year at this time, the birds' handlers like to offer thema chance to have a daily walk.

• Click on the video above to get a sneak preview of the penguins

"It stimulates their minds, encourages exercise, and as naturally curious creatures, it offers them a change of scenery and a chance to explore more of their world here at the Calgary Zoo," the zoo said in a release.

Starting Monday, Jan. 13, the king penguins will head out daily at 11 a.m. They did a trial run on Thursday.

The walks are weather dependent. Ithas to be above25 C but no warmer than 5 C and not windier than 20 km/h for the penguins to enjoy their daily constitutional.

The daily Penguin Walk starts at the Penguin Plunge, heads down to the Discovery Trail Bridge, and then back up to the penguin habitat over a 15-minute period.

The zoo says king penguin populations are relatively stable in the wild, but the birds still face the threatof rising sea temperatures and the effects of climate change.

"This year's walk is extra special for zoo staff and visitors alike as it will be the first walk for the zoo's newest king penguin chicks, George and Napoleon. This is also the first time the Calgary Zoo has had two king chicks hatch in the same year," the zoo said.

Zoo visitors could spot as many as 15 king penguins in the daily walk including: Diana, Grace, Hera, Arthur, Caesar, Tut, Solomon, Josephine, Antoinette, Louis, Henri, Phillipe, Nero, Edward and Cleo, along with the new chicks, George and Napoleon.