Penguins: The Definition of Cuteness & Climate Change Awareness

There is an evolutionary reason why babies are born with adorable features, such as chubby cheeks and big eyes, to make parents want to take care of them. This theory can explain the cuteness effect of penguins. People visit aquariums primarily to see penguins, not fish. Being curious about this marine idol allows us to be more aware of climate change on a personal level. In fact, their adorableness has inspired me to reduce plastic waste and use eco-friendly detergent to ensure that they don’t have to live in harsh environments.

I know a thing or more about the life of penguins from watching many documentaries. And I would like to share their fascinating facts here!

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1. There are more than 17 types of penguins. 

Notably, Emperor Penguins are the largest of all penguins and have a distinct black and white tuxedo appearance with an orange “scarf”. Their babies are unbelievably cute! Their fluffy gray feathers, doe eyes, and clumsy walks definitely kick your protective instincts.

2. They have incredible stamina.

Although they don’t fly, their feathers make them fast and agile swimmers. They can walk for miles on end. Sometimes, they slide on their bellies in the snow, which they seem to enjoy.

In addition to their physical strength, they have great social skills as they live in groups. They walk in line from the coast to the mountain. They flock together and watch out for each other from predators. They also huddle together in the face of a storm to preserve body temperature.

Living in harmony with others in the open space of the wild with few hiding places is imperative for these penguins. If I were a penguin, I might complain about the highly structured community and demand “me-time”. However, it is fascinating to see how they work together to survive in nature. In fact, if baby penguins can get through the cold winter, they could live around 20 years, which is quite a long time for wildlife.

3. Penguin dads go to great lengths in their parenting efforts.
Once a female penguin lays an egg, a male penguin takes over and starts warming the egg. He will remain standing there and incubating the egg for several days up to four months (in the case of the Emperor Penguin) without eating or much sleep until the mama penguin returns from feeding. If he moves, the egg can get frozen in the icy-cold Southern Hemisphere.

4. They are known for their monogamy.
Penguins are known for their loyalty, but I watched a documentary where a female penguin reunited with a male penguin who was not her mate. It’s possible that she was confused because they all looked alike, or maybe the scientist couldn’t tell which penguin was her original partner. Nonetheless, penguins are known to be faithful to their partners. I remember a penguin at an aquarium who constantly brought twigs and flowers to his girlfriend in their nest. It was so sweet!

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If you want to motivate your friends to be more sustainable, how about showing them pictures or videos of cute baby penguins? Nobody wants to see this adorable animal suffer from polluted oceans or melting ice! Here’s a video suggestion featuring young penguins defending each other.