Aquarium penguins hang out inside to escape Vancouver's chilly weather
Time indoors gives the birds the opportunity to interact with guests and staff
Vancouver's been so cold lately, even penguins can't take the chill.
The black and white birds living at the Vancouver Aquarium originate from Cape Town, South Africa and aren't used to freezing temperatures.
So, the African penguins, otherwise known as Spheniscus demersus, have been spending their time indoors to stay warm.
"It's more about their comfort level," said head veterinarian Dr. Martin Haulena. "When they fluff up their feathers and look uncomfortable, things like that."
They are brought inside when temperatures dip towards 0 C, or as soon as they show signs of being too cold.
The penguins generally hang out inside the vet's office, or they interact with guests.
"They seem pretty happy with it," Haulena said.
African penguin are considered endangered According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, .
Since the 1900s, 95 per cent of them have disappeared mostly due to a lack of food supply.
The conservation agency says the birds are competing with commercial fisheries for its main diet of sardines and anchovies.
This species are the only penguins known to live on the coast of southern Africa.