Penguins do their laps

From the Times:

For 18 years the penguins at San Francisco Zoo were happy with their lot. Ignoring the gawping visitors, they took the odd dip during summer and beat a long lazy retreat to their burrows during winter — emerging only at mealtimes to gorge themselves on fish.

But then the new kids came to town. On Christmas Eve, six Magellanic penguins arrived from a San Diego theme park, and immediately dived in to show off their swimming skills. Ever since, their pool has been a whirl of “tuxedos in a washing machine”, with 52 birds splashing around non-stop as if engaged in an epic but futile mass migration.

Nothing like peer pressure to keep you to an exercise program. Maybe I should find a penguin for a pool partner. . . .

Posted by David on January 18, 2003 5:47 PM