Penguin weight watching

The penguins at SeaWorld Orlando are lining up to check their weights.

In order to make it easier to get the king penguins weighed, SeaWorld's Aquacultural Department trained them to wait in line and then step onto a scale.

Obtaining a penguin’s weight is important because it is an indicator of their overall health and condition. In February 2006, the aviculturists team began training king penguins to weigh themselves, a task that had been no easy “feet” in the past due to the penguins large size (weighing up to 40 pounds) and strong flippers.

The training earned the department the the“Husbandry Behavior of the Year Award” at this year’s International Association of Avian Trainers and Educators conference in spring.