Thursday, December 31, 2015

Wednesday, December 30, 2015

Snow Chick doesn't care that he's too big for Daddy's pouch (video)

and we've all had days like this!

Tuesday, December 29, 2015

20 new #penguins land at the Detroit Zoo

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.

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Hugh Jackman Took A Selfie With A Baby Penguin And Nothing Else Matters

Just adorable...

12/29/2015

Julia Brucculieri Entertainment Writer, The Huffington Post

Hugh Jackman and a baby penguin are here to make your Tuesday just a little brighter.

The Australian actor shared a photo of himself and a tiny penguin on Twitter this morning, and quite frankly, nothing else matters today.

"I know, I know - My selfie skills are terrible. But just look at this baby penguin and everything will appear better," he captioned the pic.

The weather outside may be starting to look frightful, but this photo sure is delightful.

Happy Tuesday, everyone!

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African penguins under threat from DOGS

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.

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#Penguin of the Day

Antarctica by Reeve Jolliffe

Cape Town's penguin protection measures working

2015-12-28

Jeanette Chabalala, News24

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.

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Penguin Candid Camera: Little Birds Reveal Hunting Secrets

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.

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Snow chick ventures onto the ice for the first time (video teaser)

Monday, December 28, 2015

#Penguin of the Day

2014 12 7 Antarctica Fortuna and Stromness IMG_8339

Antarctica Fortuna and Stromness by Peter Liu

King penguin chick

Sunday, December 27, 2015

Danfoss helps keep the penguins cool

Posted on Sunday, December 27, 2015

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.

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Penguins show off for Greensboro's initial Penguin Encounter

Posted: Saturday, December 26, 2015

By Joe Gamm

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.”

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Rockhopper Penguin colony viewed an entirely different way (video)

Rockhopper Penguin colony viewed a different way by lin-kerns

#Penguin of the Day

Rockhopper penguin: Life On The Edge by Thom Gibbs

Saturday, December 26, 2015

#Penguin of the Day

Galapagos, Isla Isabela, Punta Moreno IMG_4768

Galapagos, Isla Isabela, Punta Moreno by Ian Withnall

New Penguin Palooza gives Akron Zoo guests a chance to feed zoo's Humboldt penguins

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.

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Festival raises awareness about plight of penguins

Friday 25 December 2015

Anda Nqonji

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.

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Friday, December 25, 2015

Merry Christmas from Penguin News Today!

Thursday, December 24, 2015

Merry Christmas Penguins!

Holiday makers flock to save penguins

Thursday 24 December 2015

SABC

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.

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Nelson policewoman rescues little blue penguin from West Coast highway

ADELE REDMOND

West Coast Penguin Trust

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."

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Penguins dressed up for Christmas

By Polly Mosendz On 12/24/15

1221penguins1 — 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

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Reviews are in for BBC's "The Snow Chick!"

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.

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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
Wednesday 23 December 2015

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.

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.

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5 times Snow Chick: A Penguin’s Tale was too cute to handle

Ann Lee for Metro.co.uk

Wednesday 23 Dec 2015

15 times Snow Chick: A Penguin's Tale was too cute to handle — (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