This is flipping fun! Penguins are given a chance to explore Singapore zoo after lack of human contact left them bored
- Singapore State Zoo is closed to the public during the Covid-19 pandemic
- Penguin keepers decided to give the creatures a free run of the empty complex
- They were apparently unimpressed by the climbing frames but braved walking behind statues of sea lions, who occasionally chomp on penguins in the wild
Penguins at Singapore zoo are making the most of the partial virus lockdown, being given the run of the empty complex and revelling in the chance to do some exploring.
With the zoo closed to the public as the country battles a worsening virus outbreak, the African penguins had little in the way of stimulation without passers-by stopping to admire them.
So their keepers began taking them on outings around the complex, nudging the pint-sized explorers to check out the area around their exhibit and the children’s playground.
Pictured: The penguins emerge from their pool at the Singapore state zoo yesterday, before their rare outing to tour the complex
Huddled together, the African penguins were allowed to play with children’s toys and tour the children’s playground at Singapore Zoo yesterday
Pictured: The group of African penguins play with children’s toys during their rare outing yesterday, after the Singapore-state zoo was closed due to the coronavirus pandemic
The colony of around a dozen birds appeared unimpressed by the climbing-frame and the slide, and soon waddled off to the next section.
Further along, several life-sized models of sea lions – which occasionally eat penguins in the wild – gave them pause for thought.
But they soon regained their courage and were back to hopping over rocks, with a pair later splitting off from the main group to go and explore behind a shed.
This handout photo released by Wildlife Reserves Singapore yesterday shows penguins roaming around the empty surroundings of Singapore Zoo, while its closed to the public
The group of African penguins skim around behind a group of sea lion statues – who eat penguins in the wild – at the Singapore Zoo yesterday
This handout photo released by Wildlife Reserves Singapore on April 30, 2020 shows a caretaker looking after penguins roaming around the empty surroundings of Singapore Zoo while it’s closed to the public
As well as roaming the empty walkways of the zoo, the penguins have also been tackling an obstacle course which has been specially designed to keep them entertained.
They got their first glance as they jumped out of a pool in their sandy enclosure – and initially stopped dead in their tracks, appearing baffled at the sight.
One brave soul timidly ventured onto the course, waddling slowly through the sand between colourful plastic balls, crossing a small bridge and navigating trenches, before the rest of the colony followed.
This photo shows one of the penguins peeping through a toy in the children’s playground at Singapore Zoo yesterday
The zoo says the workout strengthens the creatures’ leg muscles and helps them navigate new environments.
Their natural habitat is off the southwestern coast of Africa.
‘The new normal presented opportunities for our African penguins to make discoveries at Singapore zoo,’ said the animal park’s operator.
Singapore has reported more than 16,000 virus infections and has imposed curbs to halt the spread of the outbreak, including closing schools and most workplace.
Other wildlife facilities have given their penguins free-roaming rights amid the coronavirus pandemic, including the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, Illinois, where a penguin called Wellington was photographed in an unlikely meeting with a beluga whale.