Penguins may not live in England, but how we live can affect these flightless birds in Antarctica. Although clumsy on land, they are excellent swimmers with waterproof feathers (unlike most birds, they have solid bones that make them excellent divers). They also huddle together to keep warm, parents taking turns to hover over the egg, while the other parents goes off to feed.
Wild penguins can also be found in New Zealand, Australia, South America and even Africa. Like seagulls, they have a special gland that means they can safely drink seawater.
In some areas of earth, penguin numbers have fallen by half, due to rising temperatures, shrinking ice and lack of krill (small crustaceans that face pressure from climate change and over-fishing). Environmentalists want a ban on selling krill supplements, yet Holland & Barratt still sells them.
Simple Swaps to Help Penguins
- Live a zero waste lifestyle (reusable over disposable)
- Choose plant-based meals to reduce climate change.
- Choose biodegradable beauty, cleaning and laundry items
- Launder synthetic fabrics in microfibre filters.
Don’t Visit Penguins in Zoos or Aquariums
Penguins belong in the wild, even if it is very cold for them! Freedom for Animals wants the government to release 15 Gentoo penguins (that live in a windowless Sea Life basement in London with no daylight or fresh air) to be released to experts, for rewilding.
In nature, these strong swimming penguins are the deepest divers (600ft) yet have just 6 to 7 feet of water in a tiny enclosure. Chris Packham and Feargal Sharkey are involved in the campaign. As is Born Free, working alongside Naila Seetal (the 11-year old Child Prime Minister of the Sir David Amess UK Children’s Parliament).
As children, we know how important freedom and fresh air are for happiness. That’s why I’m backing the campaign to free the Gentoo 15. Penguins deserve sunlight, space to swim and a real sky above them. Not life in a dark basement. Naila Seetal
The same thing is happening in Australia, where a Melbourne aquarium (also owned by Sea Life) has Pesto, a penguin that lives in a small indoor enclosure with a pool just 2 metres deep. King penguins are not threatened in the wild, so there is no conservation argument to keep them in aquariums.
Thankfully an ice-skating event planned with ‘dancing penguins’ never came to fruition, after protests from animal welfare campaigners.
The Unique World of Wild Penguins
Penguins are made for cold water and open space. In the wild they hunt fast shoals of fish, squid, and krill. They track shifting ice, read currents, and work around predators.
- Emperor penguins huddle in tight circles to survive deep winter. They rotate, share warmth, and keep eggs safe on their feet.
- Gentoo penguins build pebble nests, carrying stones one by one. They defend these nests with quick calls and small displays.
- Adélie penguins migrate over sea ice, timing travel with the freeze and thaw. They read the weather far better than we do.
This active, social life keeps penguins fit and sharp. It also helps maintain ocean balance. By eating krill and fish, they regulate prey numbers, feed larger predators, and recycle nutrients across the water column.
Adapting to Harsh Environments
Penguins are specialists. Their bodies are tuned to icy seas, rocky shores, and fast-moving water.
- Waterproof feathers overlap like roof tiles, trapping air for warmth and buoyancy.
- Strong flippers act like paddles, pushing them through waves at speed.
- Dense bones reduce lift, so they dive with ease.
- Dark backs and white bellies work as camouflage, hiding them from both above and below.
Social Lives in Colonies
Penguins are not solitary by nature. Colonies can include thousands of pairs, all balancing cooperation and competition.
- They share parenting, taking turns to feed and keep eggs warm.
- They warn of danger with sharp calls and group movement.
- They recognise partners and chicks by voice, even in noisy crowds.
Stress and Behavioural Problems
In the wild, penguins swim for kilometres and hunt in three dimensions. In a pool, they circle. They repeat routes. They hit glass. Over time, many show stereotypic behaviour, the pacing and head bobbing that signal distress.
Health Risks from Poor Conditions
Captive spaces bring other hazards that wild birds avoid.
- Disease spread can rise in crowded enclosures. Fungal infections like aspergillosis are a known risk, especially with stale air or dusty bedding.
- Diet mismatch leads to malnutrition. Frozen fish is handy for feeding, but it lacks some of the freshness and variety found at sea, and vitamins can degrade if handling is poor.
- Foot injuries are common. Hard floors, rough concrete, or the wrong matting can cause sores and infections. In nature, snow, ice, and soft shorelines reduce this strain.
A Fun Book to Learn About Penguins!
Penguins and Other Sea Birds is a beautifully illustrated and educated guide to sea birds across the world. The book covers several species including:
- Penguins (most of the book!)
- Puffins
- Gannets
- Cormorants
- Blue-footed booby birds
- Pelicans
- Sea eagles
As penguins go, the Emperor is the boss, the sultan of the Antarctic snow. His bulk is from his ‘thermal underwear’ to protect him from sub-zero temperatures of the South Pole.
At minus 70 degrees C, the daddies bunch together in a hundred-strong rotating huddle, eggs safely tucked upon their shuffling feet inside the warm incubating brood pouch.
Soon after the fluffy chicks hatch, the females return from the sea – fat, sleek and healthy. They relieve the dad of his duties and – like ships that pass in the night – the Emperors slip off to feed.
