CANADA'S FROZEN PENGUINS

MONTREAL: Just how cold is it in Canada? Ask the penguins at Calgary zoo : Even they had to take shelter.

King Penguins, one of the five species at the zoo in western Alberta province, are certainly accustomed to chilly weather, more so than species like the Humboldt that prefer somewhat warmer climes.

But with the cold snap pushing temperatures below -30 degrees C on New Year's Eve, and feeling more like -40 degrees C in the wind, and with one 5 month old penguin chick still maturing-

Zoo officials decided to draw a line in the snow, one Sunday last, setting -25 Degree c as the birds limit.

They brought the 10-kings into their heated enclosure, where they can still be viewed by humans brave enough to go out.

Across the country, festivities in several cities -for humans, that is were moved indoors amid a brutal cold snap.

At midday Monday, the coldest temperature was registered in Eureka, in northern Nunayut territory, at -40.5C. The highest was in Prince Rupert, British Colombia, at  -7.5 degree C.

But Environmental Canada promised ''a gradual warming trend  ........and more seasonable temperatures.

It suggested wearing warm layers ''that you can remove if you get too warm.''

A luxury Penguins don't have.