Aquarium penguins hang out inside to escape Vancouver's chilly weather

Vancouver's been so cold lately, even penguins can't take the chill.

The black and white birds living at the Vancouver Aquariumoriginate from Cape Town, South Africa and aren't used to freezingtemperatures.

So, the African penguins, otherwise known as Spheniscus demersus, havebeen spending their time indoors to stay warm.

"It's more about their comfort level," said head veterinarian Dr. MartinHaulena. "When they fluff up their feathers and look uncomfortable, things like that."

Theyare brought insidewhentemperatures dip towards 0 C, or as soon as they showsigns 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.

Theconservation agency says the birds arecompetingwith commercial fisheries for its main diet ofsardines and anchovies.

This species are the only penguinsknownto live on the coast of southern Africa.