20 gentoo penguins are in temporary quarantine at the Detroit
Zoo. They will join other penguins at the zoo's Polk Penguin
Conservation Center when it opens in early 2016.
Holly Fournier, The Detroit News
December 29, 2015
Royal Oak — A
flock of flightless gentoo penguins have landed at the Detroit Zoo
after a cross-country special delivery, the zoo announced Tuesday.
The
birds, 10 females and 10 males, arrived earlier this month via FedEx
from a California aquarium, zoo officials said in a press release. The
group will join the zoo’s three other gentoos and a colony of king,
rockhopper and macaroni penguins when the Polk Penguin Conservation
Center opens next year.
Until then, the birds are being housed in a
“special quarantine area” at the Penguinarium, officials said. The
three gentoos already at the zoo arrived nearly a year ago and were the
first of their species to live at the facility.
The $29.5 million
Polk Penguin Conservation Center is scheduled to open in April 2016,
officials said. It will be home to more than 80 penguins who will feel
right at home in a chilled, 326,000-gallon, 25-foot-deep pool. Views
from above and below will allow visitors to see the resident penguins
dive underwater, something not visible in the wild.
“Gentoo
penguins are fast swimmers and divers and spend a lot of time in the
water,” said Scott Carter, Detroit Zoological Society chief life
sciences officer. “So their new aquatic habitat will be an ideal
environment for them.”
The new penguin habitat remains under
construction on a 2-acre site just inside the zoo’s entrance. Soon after
the zoo’s 80 penguins move into their new home, renovation will begin
on the Penguinarium to turn it into a bat conservation center, officials
said.
The gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis papua) is the fastest-diving
bird, with paddle-shaped flippers allowing it to swim up to 22 miles an
hour under water, according to zoo officials. The long-tailed penguin
features a white stripe across its head and a bright red-orange bill.
The gentoo is the third-largest penguin, reaching a height of up to 30
inches and a weight of up to 20 pounds.
More than 40 birds were killed by pets on beaches in South Africa last year
More than 40 penguins were killed in South Africa this year by dogs
Protective measures are now in place in Burgher's Walk, Simon's Town
These include requiring leashes for all dogs in the area
Authorities also recently increased patrols in penguin nesting areas
By
Victoria Woollaston for MailOnline
Published:
29 December 2015
African penguins struggle to find food at sea, contributing to a sharp drop in numbers over the years.
But the endangered animals also face a shore-based threat in South Africa - pet dogs.
More
than 40 penguins were killed this year by one or more dogs, and
authorities recently increased patrols in a penguin nesting area where
people often take their dogs for a walk.
African penguins (stock image) struggle to
find food at sea, contributing to a sharp drop in numbers over the
years. But the endangered animals also face a shore-based threat in
South Africa - pet dogs. More than 40 penguins were killed this year by
one or more dogs, and authorities are increasing patrols in the region
Protective measures have been put in place along Burgher's Walk in Simon's Town, Cape Town officials have said.
These include requiring leashes for all dogs in the area. Full-time patrols will continue until the end of January.
Authorities
will try to find the right balance between protecting penguins in the
urban district while at the same time 'not over-regulating human
recreation in the area,' city councilor Johan van der Merwe explained.
The
decline of the African penguin increased around 2004 with a southern
shift in anchovies and sardines away from the hub of penguin colonies
along South Africa's Atlantic coast, reducing the penguins' ability to
get food, according to experts.
Protective measures have been put in
place along Burgher's Walk in Simon's Town, Cape Town (pictured)
officials have said. These include requiring leashes for all dogs in the
area. Full-time patrols will continue until the end of January
Scientists are unsure why the fish moved, considering climate change and overfishing as some of the possible causes.
ADELIE PENGUINS ARE THRIVING
Although numbers of the African penguin are falling, a separate species of bird in East Antarctica are thriving.
The population of Adélie penguins has increased 135-fold over the past 14,000 years, despite the decrease of ice in the region.
Experts believe this is due to the fact that as glaciers retreat, the number of potential breeding sites for the birds increases.
At the start of the 1990s, it was estimated there were 3 million African penguins in the wild.
By 2004 there were just 58,000 breeding pairs.
Today
there are less than 19,000 breeding pairs of penguins in the world of
which approximately 2,120 penguins are found in the Simon’s Town,
Boulders area.
Namibia also hosts the endangered species.
In 2010, the International Union for Conservation of Nature declared the African penguin endangered.
Although numbers of the African penguin are falling, a separate species of bird in East Antarctica are thriving.
The population of Adélie penguins has increased 135-fold over the past 14,000 years, despite the decrease of ice in the region.
Experts believe this is due to the fact that as glaciers retreat, the number of potential breeding sites for the birds increases.
Penguins walk in a line at Boulders beach in Simon's Town. (AP)
Cape Town – The
interventions to protect African penguins at hotspots in the Simon's
Town area are paying off, the Cape Town’s environmental department said
on Monday.
In August, the department placed a temporary ban on
dogs between Burghers’ Walk and Links Crescent, after a number of
African penguins were killed.
"We are also pleased with the
effectiveness of the penguin monitors who are ensuring that the penguins
are not harassed in any way by visiting members of the public. The
African penguin is our shared heritage and its survival in an urban
environment requires a joint effort," spokesperson Gregg Oelofse said in
a statement.
Since the City’s introduction of additional
penguin protection measures on November 1, and thanks to the cooperation
of dog walkers and members of the public, no further penguin fatalities
had occurred along the identified spots in the area, he said.
The
penguin monitors would continue to patrol the area on a full-time basis
until January 31. It was also mandatory for all dogs to be on leashes
along Burgher's Walk. Windmill Beach (the sand area only) remained a
free-running beach for dogs.
According to the statement, recent
nest counts of breeding penguins indicated that of the 982 nests
counted, 109 nests were located just along Burghers’ Walk and the areas
immediately south of Burghers’ Walk.
Camera traps remained in the entire area to monitor attacks on penguins.
The
African penguin is currently listed as endangered by the International
Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. There has been a
steady decline in numbers over the past decade.
The overall
population of this species is estimated to be a mere 2.5% of its
population level some eight decades ago, the statement read.
by Charles Q. Choi, Live Science Contributor | December 16, 2015
Little penguins, equipped with video cameras, revealed the birds often forage in groups. Credit: John Arnould, Deakin University
Wearing video cameras, the world's smallest penguins have revealed
their hunting secrets:
The little blue-hued birds swim together to stalk
groups of prey, but when it comes to catching and killing their meals,
it's every penguin for itself.
The aptly named little penguin (Eudyptula minor) is the
smallest living species of penguin, growing to an average of 13 inches
(33 centimeters) high and 17 inches (43 cm) long.
Previous research suggested that little penguins
spent ample amounts of time swimming together when hunting food.
Researchers wanted to learn more about why these birds formed groups
when foraging, such as whether doing so gives them a better chance at
capturing anchovies, krill, jellyfish and other prey.
The scientists equipped 21 little penguins from two breeding colonies
in southeastern Australia with cameras, GPS trackers, and depth and time
recorders. The video cameras faced forward to give a penguin's-eye
view.
"By putting video cameras on little penguins, this has been the first
time we have been able to get a glimpse, literally, into their behavior
and how they interact with other penguins at sea," said study lead
author Grace Sutton, an ecologist at Deakin University in Burwood,
Australia.
Little penguins in Australia were equipped with cameras, GPS trackers, and depth and time recorders Credit: John Arnould, Deakin University
The researchers attached the devices to the backs of the penguins with
special waterproof tape that does not destroy the plumage of the birds
when the tape is removed. Altogether, these devices weighed about 1.25
ounces (35.4 grams), less than 3 percent of the average weight of the
birds; they were removed after each bird made a foraging trip.
"The penguins I work on are the smallest of all the penguin species,
but they make up for it with how feisty, wriggly and aggressive they
are," Sutton told Live Science. "It constantly amazes me how strong they
are."
During the breeding season, the penguins leave their nests at sunrise
and return after dusk to feed their chicks. The scientists found that
little penguins were more likely to swim together when hunting groups of
prey than when encountering solitary prey.
Surprisingly, "the penguins had no more chance of capturing a meal when
they were in groups than when alone," Sutton said. The birds may swim
together, but they apparently do not work together after they encounter
prey.
The researchers did find that little penguins were more likely to
encounter schooling prey than solitary prey when the birds foraged in
groups. This suggested that the penguins "hunt in groups in order to
find prey and avoid predation by safety in numbers," Sutton said. "But,
once they find prey, it is every penguin for themselves."
The scientists detailed their findings online Dec. 16 in the journal PLOS ONE.
MEXICO:
Danfoss is helping to provide the right conditions for a colony of
Adélie penguins in Guadalajara’s humid subtropical climate.
The 12 Adélie penguins, acquired from a zoo in Tokyo, are a star attraction in Antarctica: the Kingdom of Penguins at Guadalajara Zoo.
In a city with a humid subtropical
climate, it fell to Danfoss to provide an environment more suited to the
penguins’ Antarctic homeland.
Guadalajara Zoo began the search earlier
this year for equipment that could adequately match the required areas
for the penguins: a quarantine zone, the public area, the penguins
habitat, a space to serve as a bedroom during the night and an ice
machine.
“The Zoo opted for Danfoss solutions, due
to several factors; one of them is the immediate availability of the
equipment, allowing the twelve penguins were in observation during a
period of quarantine, to rule out problems of health or adaptation
before being displayed,” explained Eduardo Luna, Danfoss Refrigeration
and Air Conditioning Distribution sales manager.
The initial 80m³ quarantine area was
maintained at a temperature of 0ºC by a 5hp Danfoss condensing unit and
two evaporators. In the same area stood a 10.5m³ swimming pool, which
was kept refrigerated with another similar unit.
The 672m³ penguin area has also been
refrigerated at 0ºC. It initially was decided to install two 7hp
condensing units with scroll compressors, as well as four evaporators.
The evaporators are used alternately to avoid an increases in
temperature during defrost. A further 5hp unit was subsequently added
following a major installation of lamps which increased the heat load.
The 154m³ salt water pool is, kept at a
temperature of 5ºC by two chillers with two 20hp semi-hermetic
compressors, one of which serves as emergency backup. Danfoss electronic
controllers were also used.
While the visiting area does not need to
be refrigerated, it was important to maintain a suitable temperature to
avoid condensation and fogging of glasses. To maintain the temperature
of 15ºC in the 570m³ room, two 10hp hermetic condensing units, two air
handling units and two Danfoss EKC 202C electronic controllers were
used.
In addition, a machine was installed
outside the habitat to provide ice which should cover the plastic mesh
on the floor and dampen steps and jumps from birds and to keep their
feet in good condition. A 5hp semi-hermetic condensing unit is employed
to produce 1.5 tons of ice every day.
The penguins’ night area has dimensions
similar to the area of the now dismantled quarantine facility and a pool
of 18m3 which is being cooled with the equipment removed from the
quarantine area.
“With good initial results, we are proud
to be one of the companies where our products have collaborated so that
the Guadalajara Zoo expands its attractions positioning them as the only
institution in the country that offers the possibility to admire the
behaviour of a small community of Adélie penguins,” said Eduardo Luna.
GREENSBORO — A showoff. There’s one in every group. On Saturday, the
showoff was Raven, a 1-year-old African penguin that was one of two
featured in the Greensboro Science Center’s first-ever Penguin
Encounter.
She’s always loved attention, said Martha Regester, the center’s director of education.
Raven, an African penguin, brays during the Greensboro Science Center's first Penguin Encounter on Saturday, Dec. 26, 2015. By JOE GAMM/News & Record
When she was really young, Raven would just fall over and allow herself to be set back upright.
“She loved the attention,” Regester said.
Raven got plenty of attention
Saturday, as eight members of the general public were allowed to
interact with her and another penguin, Kuechly (named after the Carolina
Panthers’ linebacker Luke Kuechly).
The encounter, limited to eight people, will be held every Saturday.
It costs $35, in addition to the science center’s admission fee.
Attendees are required to wear
closed-toe shoes and to put on booties (provided by the center) over
their shoes to prevent avian flu from entering the penguin habitat.
Raven entertains during the Greensboro Science Center's first Penguin Encounter on Saturday, Dec. 26, 2015. By JOE GAMM/News & Record
It’s a 45-minute experience in
which the public can learn about the feeding, care and conservation of
African penguins in Greensboro. The program takes place in a back room
of the center.
Shannon Fletcher, the center’s
lead penguin keeper, gives listeners all the details — from the birds’
favorite fish — herring because of its high levels of fat and calories —
to keepers’ control over breeding.
Fletcher chooses the fish she feeds the penguins very carefully. “They like a really, really perfect fish,” she told Saturday’s group.
Keepers closely monitor and record what each bird eats every day.
During the encounter, attendees
are allowed to touch the birds on their backs and on their wings — to
feel the silky soft texture of the specialized feathers.
Sabrina Woodbery feels the texture of an
African penguin’s feathers Saturday during the Greensboro Science
Center’s first Penguin Encounter. Kuechly (below) shows her shy side but
curiosity later won out. Photos by JOE GAMM/News & Record
Amy Parrish and Ann Cokerhan traveled to Greensboro from Asheville just for the interaction with the birds, they said.
They have created a tradition of giving each other gifts of experiences for holidays and birthdays.
“I think this is the future of zoos,” Parrish said. “Now, it’s education and preservation.”
An African penguin named Kuechly hides during the Greensboro Science Center's first Penguin Encounter Saturday, Dec. 26, 2015.By JOE GAMM/News & Record
Raven lived up to her reputation, marching through the forest of human legs
She stopped periodically to raise her head and bray.
The African penguins are sometimes called jackass penguins because they bray like a donkey, Regester said.
Participants in the encounter
were given shiny items with which they could interact with the birds.
Experts think such objects remind the penguins of fish, Fletcher said.
As Sabrina Woodbery of Greensboro dangled a shiny toy in front of Raven, Kuechly became curious about her fingers.
“I got my fingers nibbled,” she said. “When Raven was playing, the other one came up and tested my fingers out.”
The Akron Zoo will be highlighting its
penguins tin January during a new event, Penguin Palooza.
Penguin
Palooza will run every Saturday and Sunday in January from 11 a.m. to 2
p.m. Visitors will have the opportunity to feed the zoo's penguins for
$3, enjoy free hot chocolate and a different make-and-take penguin craft
every weekend.
The zoo is home to 17 endangered Humboldt penguins, and although the
penguins are more mild temperate penguins from South America, they are
in their exhibit year round as the zoo keeps the water temperature at 60
degrees for them.
Winter hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information visit www.akronzoo.org or call 330-375-2550.
Nearly 300 endangered
African Penguin chicks are hand-reared at the conservation centre after
being abandoned by their parents.(SABC)
The Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal
Birds (SANCCOB), a St Francis Bay-based organisation, is inviting
citizens to learn more about the endangered penguin species.
This 10 day event is dedicated to educating South Africans and
international visitors about the daily struggles of an African penguin.
SANCCOB is hosting its second penguin holiday festival, an initiative to
raise awareness around the plight of the endangered African penguins
and other seabirds.
This initiative, seeks to educate people about the African penguin in an entertaining way.
The Foundations’ Marketing and development coordinator,
Louanne Mostert, says their main goal is to rescue and rehabilitate
these species.
“This is a great opportunity to have our international England and East
Coast visitors to learn more about African penguin, which is pretty much
as we call it, the rhino of the ocean, which is the endangered penguin
species that occurs only on our coast line, so raising awareness has
been our main focus with this event.”
Holiday makers say while they are happy to see the penguins in action,
they fear that the next generation might not be as privileged.
The younger generation was also interested in learning about these
endangered species, but like their parents, they want nothing but safety for their sea friends.
Mostert says they will continue to raise awareness about the penguin species, as it is part of the African heritage.
The second annual Penguin Festival is currently underway at Cape St Francis.(SABC)
Holiday makers at Cape St Francis in the Eastern Cape have been
urged to help save the endangered African penguin species and other
vulnerable sea birds.
This came out at the second annual Penguin Festival which is currently underway at Cape St Francis.
The festival is part of the Southern African Foundation for the
Conservation of Coastal Birds, to create awareness about the plight of
African penguins.
Cape St Francis Bay is a renowned holiday destination. Holiday makers
have gathered at the Penguin Rehabilitation centre with the same common
vision to save African penguins which are fondly known as “Rhinos of the
ocean ".
More than 1000 visitors flocked to witness penguins being released to the sea.
The little blue penguin rescued by Nelson policewoman PC Nyanne Graf-Pollard near Greymouth.
A lucky encounter with a Nelson police officer saw a wayward little blue penguin returned home to the sea.
Constable
Nyanne Graf-Pollard, who was on the West Coast to help local cops test
for drunk drivers, was driving on State Highway 6 between Greymouth and
Hokitika when she spotted the lost penguin on the roadside around
10.30pm on December 17.
She initially drove past the penguin, but returned later to find it in the same spot.
"I
thought it was a cat and I thought when I came back it had probably
been run over but this little fella was still standing there on the fog
line," Graf-Pollard said.
"I wrapped him up in my fluoro police jacket and took him to the Greymouth [police] station."
The penguin was later assessed by Hokitika DOC workers and found to be uninjured.
Manager
of the West Coast Penguin Trust Inger Perkins said the fledgling
penguin had likely wandered onto the highway and become scared by
passing traffic.
"When we looked at it it was perfectly healthy,
scrambling around in it's box, but something was wrong with it being
away from its family. It's not normal penguin behaviour.
"Unfortunately we do find penguins on the road occasionally. If they can't find shelter in that area, they look to come inland."
Fortunately
Graf-Pollard had taken photos of the penguin's location and it was
released the next morning near Kumara Junction, a couple hundred metres
away from where it was found.
The little blue reportedly emerged from its box and stood confused
for around 15 minutes before slowly zig-zagging towards the sea and
swimming away.
Graf-Pollard said she had been concerned about touching the penguin, but hates seeing animals dead or alive on the road.
"Apparently I did the right thing. It would have been another road fatality."
Graf-Pollard also acts as a police liaison for the SPCA, and agreed that care for animals was part of her job.
"It's part of my role but I would do it even if it wasn't."
Two penguins dressed like Santa at the Long Island Aquarium. Long Island Aquarium
Four penguins at the Long Island Aquarium paraded around
in Santa costumes in honor of the holiday season, spreading cheer with
their tiny red and white hats.
The penguins, Pam, Angela, Fuzz and Sheldon, were born at the
aquarium and take to being dressed up surprisingly well. “They seem to
like it, they don’t get bitey—they occasionally bite at things that are
new to them,” explains Darlene Puntillo, director of marketing and
advertising at the aquarium.
Each penguin has a slightly different outfit, ranging from full hat
and beard to a scarf or coat. Fuzz is particularly keen on dressing up,
and takes to the costumes best.
Once the penguins are dressed up, they’re offered free range of the
aquarium. That seems to be their favorite part: the penguins sprint all
over the place and seem very pleased with their Santa costume
exploration time. “It's good for them to have different experiences, and
it's a lot of fun,” Puntillo says.
A penguin, dressed like Santa, poses under a Christmas tree.
Long Island Aquarium
During the aquarium's holiday party, the penguins were photographed
with a human Santa. Zoo patrons were also able to watch them run free.
Dressing up the black-footed African penguins is a recent tradition
for the aquarium. Last holiday season, the aquarium purchased one
costume and dressed up a penguin for the holiday party. For Halloween,
it added to the dress-up chest with lobster, pumpkin, tuxedo and mermaid
costumes.
Santa and a penguin dressed like Santa pose together.
Long Island Aquarium
In addition to Halloween and Christmas, the penguins were dressed up for the release of Star Wars.
Come Valentine's Day, the zoo plans to dress one of the penguins for a
tea party. It has also considered hosting a mock wedding complete with
tuxedo and gown, but no details on the nuptials yet.
A penguin dressed like Yoda for the release of the newest installment of 'Star Wars.'
Long Island Aquarium
Ingenious, heart-rending...this was the wildlife tale of the year: CHRISTOPHER STEVENS reviews last night's TV
By
Christopher Stevens for Daily Mail
Published:
23 December 2015
Snow Chick: A Penguin’s Tale
Rating:
Spare
a thought for film-maker Frederique Olivier and her assistant Martin
Passingham, who gave up a chance to go home for Christmas after almost a
year in the Antarctic so that we could enjoy the most adorable
documentary of the festive season.
The
duo were camped 60 miles from the coast, beyond the reach of any rescue
plane or helicopter, surviving in blizzard conditions and temperatures
as low as minus 60C.
And
they weren’t even allowed to get within 20 yards of their subjects: the
emperor penguin breeding colony they were studying is protected by
strict international law.
Adorable: A shot featuring one of the stars of Snow Chick: A Penguin’s Tale, a BBC 1 wildlife documentary
Survival: The baby penguin, pictured in Snow Chick, had a tough fight to stay alive in its harsh Antarctic habitat
But
they had ingenious technology on their side, with cameras hidden in
rocks or disguised as penguin chicks, and one operated by remote control
that resembled a full-size bird, sliding about on its belly.
Their
aim was to document every stage of the breeding cycle for a unique
programme that would eventually be broadcast as Spy In The Huddle.
As
they collected and studied the footage each week, though, another story
began to take shape. One of the eggs hatched late, and the chick was
much smaller than all the others. Frederique and Martin gave it a name —
they dubbed it Snow Chick.
Snow
Chick: Penguin's Tale (BBC 1) was a story of survival against
impossible odds. But if your heart was in your mouth as you watched the
chick being attacked by a killer petrel, smothered by broody females, or
lost and freezing to death outside the colony, imagine how Frederique
and Martin must have felt.
When I
interviewed Snow Chick producer John Downer earlier this month, he
explained there was nothing the film crew could do to protect the tiny
bird.
They
were not allowed to approach, and they had no food to give it: penguin
chicks eat pre-digested fish, regurgitated by their parents. ‘You can’t
adopt a penguin,’ said John, ‘or try to save it, because it won’t
survive without its mother.’
Thankfully,
the chick did survive. But while he was bursting with courage and
resilience, he and his nursery mates were sadly short on intelligence.
Penguins are birds of notoriously little brain, and they are not good
communicators.
When
Snow Chick’s parents left the colony and headed for the sea, they
didn’t tell junior that they weren’t coming back. They simply left him
to work it out.
Safe Distance: The crew had to stay away from the baby penguin, pictured, no matter what the situation
Dedication: Film makers Frederique Olivier and Martin Passingham spent almost a year filming in the Antarctic
The
film-makers thought that the little penguins would realise within a day
or two that something was wrong, and go in search of food.
When that happened, the humans could fire up their snowmobiles too and head for home, in time for Christmas.
But
the babies waited for four weeks, until they were half-dead from hunger
— and Frederique and Martin had missed any chance of a turkey dinner.
You
could hardly have blamed them if they’d decided to roast a penguin
instead, though any wildlife photographer would of course be horrified
by the very idea.
Thank
goodness they stayed. This was a wonderful piece of story-telling, and
my personal favourite wildlife documentary of the year.
Snow Chick: A Penguin's Tale, TV review: Small, fluffy and perfectly formed
The BBC documentary was narrated by Kate Winslet and followed the early stages of an Emperor penguin's life
Amy Burns
The BBC's documentary could melt a heart as cold as the -60C temperatures BBC
Following the early stages of an Emperor penguin's life, the BBC's sweet and (sort of) festive documentary could melt a heart as cold as the -60C temperatures Snow Chick was being raised in.
Last to hatch, the tiny chick had more to overcome than most and
remarkable footage showed him being elbowed out of the baby huddle for
being too small.
The
documentary featured eye-wateringly close footage of picture-perfect
babies, and touching reunions between proud parents (BBC)
Narrated by Kate Winslet, this was no challenger to March of the
Penguins and neither did it teach us anything David Attenborough
probably hasn't a thousand times already.
But with eye-wateringly close footage of picture-perfect babies,
touching reunions between proud parents and daring escapes from the jaws
of death (in the guise of a leopard seal) it was impossible not to be
transfixed.
Snow Chick was so small, fluffy and perfectly formed he could have
come straight off the shelf at London Zoo's gift shop and scenes of his
father successfully wrestling him free from a group of broody, childless
females were heartbreaking. Forget Christmas, this was a show that was
truly special whatever time of year it aired.
5 times Snow Chick: A Penguin’s Tale was too cute to handle
Ann Lee for Metro.co.uk
Wednesday 23 Dec 2015
(Picture: BBC)
Snow Chick: A Penguin’s Tale had it all – laughs, tears, drama and a
lot of very, very cute animals falling over and being adorable.
The story of one tiny Emperor penguin and its struggle to survive in
Antarctica, which was broadcast tonight on BBC1, was a rollercoaster of
emotions.
Producer John Downer said: ‘For this tiny creature to survive in the most brutal conditions on Earth is a true adventure.’
Viewers were hooked on the heart-warming drama, which was beautifully
narrated by Oscar winner Kate Winslet, with many demanding one for
Christmas.
Please, Santa! We’ve been good this year.
Here are 15 times the show was just too damn cute to cope with. When they were just embryo penguins
(Picture: BBC)When they hatched. Aww…
(Picture: BBC)When these little guys were just chilling with the ‘rents
(Picture: BBC)When this one played peekaboo
(Picture: BBC)When they played penguin rugby
(Picture: BBC)When they all bonded and became cuddly BFFs
(Picture: BBC)When this dude said ‘hello’
(Picture: BBC)When mamma penguin gave her kid a tasty snack
(Picture: BBC)When the babies and adults all chilled together
(Picture: BBC)But this guy was, like, super chill
(Picture: BBC)When they stacked it
(Picture: BBC)When this dude showed up
(Picture: BBC)When Snow Chick saved himself after falling in the water. D’oh!
(Picture: BBC)When he realised it was OK to go back into the water
The Penguin Camera is located on Torgersen Island (64°46’S, 64°04’W), off the coast of Anvers Island and less than a mile from Palmer Station. Torgersen Island is home to a colony of Adélie penguins numbering approximately 2,500. This camera is seasonal and operates primarily from October to February, the Adélie breeding season. The camera is solar-powered and may sometimes experience brief outages due to inclement weather. School classrooms and other educational demonstrations will often take control of the camera, moving it to gain better views of the colony.
I am an animal advocate and a believer that every animal's life matters. Who I am is not as important as what I can do; I am here to save lives. Please help me help them.