Sunday, April 27, 2014

Adorable moment penguins run up to greet photographer

 ... as he took pictures of Antarctic glacier

By Joel Christie
A young explorer of the Antarctic quickly went from landscape photographer to wildlife warrior during a recent trip to the South Pole.

Oliver Wheeldon - a 19-year-old from Oxford who is part of 2041, the Antarctic Youth Ambassador Program - was taking a photo of a glacier in Neko Harbor when suddenly a penguin in the distance spotted him.

As part of the Antarctic Treaty, which protects the continent as a land for scientific preserve, any vistors are not permitted to go within 25 meters from seals and five meters from penguins.

But if they approach you, everything is fine, as Wheeldon discovered.

Incoming: Not used to seeing humans hanging around its home in Neko Harbor, Antarctica, this playful penguin comes to inspect what's going on
Incoming: Not used to seeing humans hanging around its home in Neko Harbor, Antarctica, this playful penguin comes to inspect what's going on




Getting closer: Oli Wheeldon, a young Antarctic explorer, could not believe his luck when this penguin kept approaching
Getting closer: Oliver Wheeldon, a young Antarctic explorer, could not believe his luck when this penguin kept approaching 


Who are you? The penguin gets a good look at the 'thing' that has come into his neighborhood
Who are you? The penguin gets a good look at the 'thing' that has come into his neighborhood


And then he decides to get even closer ...
And then he decides to get even closer ...

The Gentoo penguin has many predators in the water - such as  sea lions, leopard seals and orcas - but doesn't seem to be fearful of humans
The Gentoo penguin has many predators in the water - such as sea lions, leopard seals and orcas - but doesn't seem to be fearful of humans

Humans are not allowed to go within 5 meters of penguins when visiting Antarctica. But penguings can go within whatever they want of humans ...




It is common for the curious animals of the area to interact.

With only scientists living in Antarctica and no native population, they are not aware of humans and become inquisitive. 

Wheeldon, who is also a painter and takes photos for inspiration, said he had been lying still in the snow for some time when his little friend decided to come and say hello.
 
'Once they're there that's it, they can touch you but you can't touch them,' Wheeldon told The Mail Online.b'So if it's going to poo on you, its going to poo on you!' Fortunately, he made it out alright.

Wheeldon's work and adventures can be seen at his website, oliwheeldon.blogspot.com

Snazzy: Oli WHeeldon, 18, of Oxford, has been obsessed with Antarctica since he was a child and has spent the past few years working to understand and help conserve it
Snazzy: Oliver WHeeldon, 19, of Oxford, has been obsessed with Antarctica since he was a child and has spent the past few years working to understand and help conserve it


Landscape: An example of a painting done by Oli Wheeldon, using coal, oil and petrol
Landscape: An example of a painting done by Oliver Wheeldon, using coal, oil and petrol

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