Other events in Baltic States

The Riga Zoo's new Gentoo penguins, who have been on display the past week, have become a hit with visitors.

LETA was informed by zoo spokesman Maris Lielkalns that many people arriving at the zoo have come just to see the penguins.

He added that the animals have become so popular that lines of people sometimes even form to view them.

As reported, the penguins will be on display at the Riga Zoo until the end of August.

The 17 penguins have arrived in Riga from the Edinburgh Zoo in Scotland, who will undergo a period of quarantine in Riga before travelling further from the European Union to an oceanarium in China.

Persons visiting the zoo will be able to view the penguins everyday from 1:00 p.m. until August 30.

As Lielkalns previously pointed out, the opportunity to see these entertaining creatures from Antarctica is certainly a great present for persons visiting the zoo on its 100-year anniversary.

The Riga Zoo was selected as a suitable destination to quarantine the penguins as Latvia is one of the rare countries in Europe where bird-flu has not been detected the past ten years.

The last time the Riga Zoo had a penguin on display was in 1985, when sailors brought it back from a trip abroad. The penguin was later given to the Lithuanian Sea Museum in Klaipeda, who fathered many descendants at the museum.