US aquarium gives penguins free rein after closing doors due to coronavirus pandemic

As the coronavirus pandemic spreads across the US businesses are being forced in to lockdown but one Chicago aquarium is making the most of a bad situation.

Shedd Aquarium has allowed some of it's penguins to explore the empty aquarium and posted the adventure on Twitter.

"Without guests in the building, caretakers are getting creative in how they provide enrichment to animals," the aquarium said in a statement.

"Introducing new experiences, activities foods and more to keep them active, encouraging them to explore, problem solve and express natural behaviours."

The video shows the penguins waddling through the empty aquarium, checking out the reception desk and the other exhibits.

In one video, a rockhopper penguin named Wellington takes particular interest in the fishes at the Amazon exhibit - and it seems the feeling is mutual.

"The black-barred silver dollars also seemed interested in their unusual visitor!" wrote the aquarium. 

 

In response to the coronavirus pandemic thousands of stores across the US have closed their doors.

Officials in New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles and San Francisco have ordered restaurants, bars and cinemas to close, reports NPR.

The US has 5894 confirmed cases of coronavirus and 97 deaths, according to a tracker operated by Johns Hopkins University.