A group of penguins takes a stroll at Shanghai Zoo on Monday. (Jiang Xiaowei/SHINE)
Shanghai Zoo has launched a science popularization program allowing visitors to get a close look at penguins strolling outdoors and learn about their behavior.
The stroll is organized every weekend throughout the year except during summer.
About 10 to 20 black-footed penguins participate each time, following zoo keepers as they walk along a boulevard for about 50 meters.
On Monday, 22 penguins took the stroll much to the delight of visitors.
The walks are held at 2:20pm on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays from January to March, and at 10:20am on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays between March and June and between October and December.
The penguins, also known as African penguins, grow up to 60 to 70 centimeters tall and weigh between 2.2–3.5 kilograms. The average lifespan of an African penguin is about 10 to 27 years in the wild, and they can live up to 30 years in captivity.
