The eight Humboldt penguins which are housed in the Sofia Zoo for the third day now, are adapting normally and are in great condition.

The information was reported Saturday for the Bulgarian National Radio, BNR, by the Zoo Director, Dr. Ivan Ivanov.

"They have adapted almost in full, and it depends on the weather if they will be let out because the forecast for the beginning of the week is for freezing cold. They have not hatched in their natural environment and must be kept warm. We will let them out when temperatures reach at least 7 degrees Celsius. They walk, swim and are very interesting. They play with the workers and started eating fish" Ivanov says.

The penguins are going to stay at the Sofia Zoo for about a year to a year in a half. If they have offspring during this time, the babies are to remain in Sofia.

The Humboldt penguin (Spheniscus humboldti) is a South American penguin that breeds in coastal Peru and Chile. The penguin is named after the cold water current it swims in, which itself is named after Alexander von Humboldt, an explorer.