Melbourne Aquarium unveils new Antarctic penguins
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The king penguins (rear) and gentoo penguins (front) happily live together. (supplied)
Australia's first collection of sub-antarctic penguins have gone on show at a new $28-million exhibition at the Melbourne Aquarium.
The collection features five majestic king penguins keeping a watchful eye over 13 other gentoo penguins.
Tristen Bird, the aquarium's bird co-ordinator says the gentoo penguins are extremely inquisitive and active.
"They have an enormous level of energy when they get up in the morning and really they are on the go all day long," he said.
He says the king penguins, with a splash of red around their throats are regal, majestic and reserved.
"They truly are the kings of the penguin world. They're a little bit more, I guess standoffish than their gentoo friends."
The penguins have been in Melbourne for two months and have just finished their quarantine period.
The animals were bred in captivity and have never actually lived in the Antarctic.
The enclosure is kept at below zero temperatures and tonnes of snow will be created daily to make the animals feel at home.
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