Overview
- The seasonal Penguin Walk begins Dec. 18 at Asahiyama Zoo in Asahikawa and is planned to run until roughly mid-March, depending on snow.
- Thirteen king penguins will traverse an approximately 500-meter route at a leisurely pace, previewed during a Dec. 17 rehearsal watched by smiling visitors.
- The zoo schedules two public outings each day at 11:00 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., shifting to a single 11:00 a.m. walk in March during the molt.
- Each round trip takes about 30 minutes, and the zoo will be closed Dec. 30 through Jan. 1.
- Staff say the walks counter winter inactivity by leveraging natural group movement, as tourists line the path to watch and take photos.