Calgary too cold for penguins, zoo brings birds indoors

Zoo curator Malu Celli says the king penguins have been brought in from their outdoor enclosure after Calgary’s cold snap dropped temperatures below -25 C.

Celli says the tuxedoed birds would likely be fine if they waddled into the cold, but with chicks still maturing, zookeepers prefer to err on the side of caution.

She says king penguins are accustomed to chilly weather, but they tend to live in milder climates than their Antarctic cousins, emperor penguins.

She says king penguins spend their winters outside at the zoo, but every year, Calgary’s frigid temperatures force them to temporarily return indoors.

Celli says zookeepers have made adjustments for several exhibits on account of the cold, and humans are still welcome to check out the park’s attractions.