Cute moment penguin appears to teach his friend how to walk

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Poser: This young emperor penguin seems to think it is Usain Bolt as it mimics the Jamaican sprinter's trademark celebration A baby emperor penguin appears to be teaching its friend how to walk in this set of adorable pictures. Either that, or it thinks it is Usain Bolt as it strikes a pose in the image of the lightning-fast Jamaican sprinter. Meanwhile, another young penguin argues its case with a friend, gesturing with its wing as if to make a point.

Care to dance? Another penguin seems to want engage in a jig with a friend The new-born penguins are simply enjoying a tranquil day in the cold sunshine - because no predators are nearby. However, one shot has a large crowd huddling close together, hoping to stay warm in each others' company. Their curiosity entertained wildlife photographer Jan Vermeer, 51, who sat close by watching the action. Mr Vermeer, from Apeldoorn in the Netherlands, travelled to Snow Hill Island in Antarctica to capture the shots.

Help is at hand: These two seem to be helping each other cross Antarctica's freezing terrain

Gathering: This large crowd huddle close together, hoping to stay warm in each others' company He said: 'Fortunately the penguins are not afraid of humans as they have never seen us before - it's the most remote place in the world. "They have no fear but they are curious and, if you wait long enough, they come closer to you. 'Daily life for penguin chicks is not that exciting - as long as they aren't being attacked by any predators.' source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2437294/You-just-flipper-Cute-moment-penguin-appears-teach-friend-walk.html My Facebook My Google+ Contact me

Read more!

Compare the meerkats! Cuddly creatures have their weight checked at London Zoo

By KERRY MCQUEENEY

Weigh day: It's that time of year again for the animals of London Zoo, and these meerkats are no exception

With more than 16,000 creatures to look after, this task was never going to be an easy one.
Every single species in the care of London Zoo is being measured, weighed, poked and prodded in a bid to monitor the health of breeds.
Keepers have been lifting the scales and reaching for the tape measures as they take on the mammoth assignment to monitor every one of its residents. And these meerkats were no exception as they hopped on the scales.

The scales don't lie: As one meerkat sits on top of the device, another gets ready for his turn

At London Zoo's annual weigh-in every animal needs to be accounted for, whether it's noting the weight of a penguin chick or checking the height of a giraffe.
Because there are so many creatures to monitor, keepers at London Zoo - which is run by the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) spend hours throughout the whole year recording the mass of every animal, ranging from penguins and meerkats to owls and lions.
Once the measurements are recorded, it is logged in the Zoological Information Management System to be shared with zoos all over the world.

P-p-pick up a penguin: Zookeeper Vicky Fyson grapples with one of its water-based residents

Zoologists use the system to compare information on thousands of endangered species.
David Field, ZSL's Zoological Director, said: 'We need to know the vital statistics of every animal at the Zoo - however big or small.
'This information helps us to monitor their health, their diets and their general well-being.
'By sharing it with other zoos and conservationists, we can use this knowledge to protect wild animals, and use it to assess their health, their behaviours and even their ages.'

Wait your turn: The other penguins get a little impatient as one of their own jumps on the scales

Vicki Fyson a trainee keeper at London Zoo prepares to weigh a Rockhopper penguin

The Zoological Information Management System (ZIMS) forms part of the International Species Information System (ISIS), a not-for-profit organisation providing the world standard in zoological data collection.
Its sharing software is used by more than 800 member zoos and aquariums in almost 80 countries, allowing them to share information.
The ISIS global database contains information on 2.6 million animals - 10,000 species and is constantly growing.

Measuring up: An African millipede is checked by zookeeper Don McFarlane

ZSL was founded in 1826 and is an international scientific, conservation and educational charity. Its key role is the conservation of animals and their habitats.
The Society is responsible for running London and Whipsnade Zoos. It also carries out scientific research at the Institute of Zoology and is actively involved in more than 50 field conservation projects worldwide.

No creature too big... or small: The zoo records the height and mass of every animal in the zoo, of which there are over 16,000

Vital statistics: The information from the weigh-in helps keepers monitor their health and well-being

source: dailymail

Read more!

They look good enough to eat! Penguins left looking chocolate-covered after swimming across mud pool

By ANTHONY BOND

Mucky: When this group of plucky penguins decided to take a shortcut to the sea, they ended up looking a touch foolish

Considering the amount of time they spend outdoors in some of the roughest weather the world has to offer, penguins usually manage to remain remarkably dapper.
However, this one decided to throw decorum aside in a dash for the sea, swimming across a lake of mud in its path and cloaking its usually impeccable black and white plumage in brown slime.
In fact, the bird was so thoroughly covered that it could have been trying to pass itself off as a chocolate penguin.

Trapped: A huge colony of the flightless birds were gathered on a place called Salisbury Plain in remote South Georgia when a huge mud lake poured across the ice and separated them from the water

A huge colony of the flightless birds were gathered on a place called Salisbury Plain in remote South Georgia when a huge mud lake poured across the ice and separated them from the water.
Thousands of the cute creatures decided to be sensible and take the longer route around the muck so they could reach the ocean.
But a plucky handful decided they were not going to let a bit of mud get in their way.
Instead, they jumped in and made a swim for it. However, they no doubt quickly regretted it.

Mess: Thousands of the cute creatures decided to be sensible and take the longer route around the muck so they could reach the ocean. But a handful decided to make a swim for it

Within seconds the King Penguins - Aptenodytes Patagonicus in Latin - were covered from beak to webbed feet in oozing slime.
When they emerged from the pool they looked like they had been dipped in chocolate as they were completely covered in the mud.
Eventually they finally reached the sea and the embarrassed penguins threw themselves into the ice-cold ocean for a much-needed wash.
The King Penguin is the second largest species of penguin - only the Emperor Penguin is bigger.

Embarrassing: When they emerged from the mud pool they looked like they had been dipped in chocolate as they were completely covered in the mud

Slimy: This King Penguin looked very sheepish after he emerged from the mud

They eat just small fish and can often repeatedly dive to more than 100 metres when foraging for food.
Some have even been recorded diving at depths greater than 300 metres.
There are estimated to be about 2.23 million breeding pairs in the world.

Clean: When they finally reached the sea, the embarrassed penguins threw themselves into the ice-cold ocean for a much-needed wash

source: dailymail

Read more!

Er, has anyone seen the snow? Penguins await the big freeze as they enjoy a waddle on the grass

By RICHARD HARTLEY-PARKINSON

Looking up at the sky, some 200,000 penguins on the islands of South Georgia have gone to their breeding colony but found there is no snow

Looking up to the clear blue skies, these penguins think there is something amiss.
Pictures taken on the islands of South Georgia, a well-known breeding colony for royal penguins, show around 200,000 of the birds that were taken by photographer Sergey Kokinskiy, lacking the usual backdrop of snow.
The naturally curious animals look so out of place that they are almost cartoon-like to watch in what seems to be outside of their natural environment.
Mr Kokinskiy only discovered the penguins living with no snow when he landed on the island. It is not unusual for the islands not to have snow. In fact, June marks the start of their winter and the more familiar white-covered landscape should return within the next couple of weeks when temperatures usually reach -5°C.

The naturally curious animals look so out of place that they are almost cartoon-like to watch in what seems to be outside of their natural environment

Snowy mountains and a glacier can be seen in the background as these penguins waddle around on lush green grass

There's not much need for huddling for these penguins while the weather's on the warm side. Although the snow will soon start to fall

Mr Kokinskiy said: ' I went to the Antarctic because I fell in love with the harsh nature of the extreme north and the extreme south. I had always dreamed of visiting Antarctica and when I did, I was struck by the beauty of this majestic place.'

Is it all over there? Not yet, but over the next couple of weeks the landscape will turn white once more as the islands' winter gets underway with the mercury plummeting to an average of -5°C

It is forbidden to get closer than five metres to penguins, so as not to frighten the birds. Mr Kokinskiy added: 'If you sit down and don't make any sudden movements, the penguins with come to you within five or ten minutes. Some will try to bite you too - out of curiosity.'
The pictures were taken in an area of the island best suited for hatching chicks. There are no enemies for the penguins here and the sea provides them with a lot of food such as small fish and krill.
In early spring, all adult penguins go out to sea and cease to care for their young - who should have learned how to fish. Any chicks who have not learned to hunt for themselves, are left to die.

With a mist forming at the base of the mountains and, the scenery is no less dramatic than when it is a barren white breeding ground for penguins

Penguins are protected so people are not allowed closer than five metres away from them but, as Mr Kokinskiy shows, if you sit down and stay still for long enough they will come to you

source: dailymail

Read more!

What's black and white and all over the place? Satellite survey finds DOUBLE the number of penguins scientists expected

By TAMARA COHEN

An Emperor colony at Halley Bay pictured during a survey to get the first reliable census of the iconic birds

The first census of penguins at the South Pole has found nearly 600,000 – twice the number previously thought to be there. Using state-of-the-art satellite imagery, scientists found 44 colonies of emperor penguins.
Seven colonies were previously unknown, and many of the known ones were bigger than expected. In the past, it was notoriously difficult to estimate their numbers as they live in temperatures of -50c (-58f), and some colonies are in the most remote parts of the Antarctic sea ice.
The British Antarctic Survey hopes that having an accurate number – thought to be 595,000 compared with previous estimates of 270,000-350,000 – will help manage conservation and track climate change. The scientists hope having an accurate measure of their number - now though to be 595,000 compared to previous estimates of 270,000-350,000 - will help manage conservation efforts and track the impact of climate change.

Counting emperor penguins in their icy Antarctic habitat was not easy until researchers used new technology to map the birds from space

Emperors are the largest penguins, and live in the coldest and most remote locations. Other Antarctic penguins live further north. They have gold patches on their ears and tops of their chests.
Living in large colonies, they are the only penguin species to breed through the pitch-dark Antarctic winter in brutal temperatures and winds of more than 120 miles an hour.
Counting emperor penguins in their icy Antarctic habitat was not easy until researchers used new technology to map the birds from space

source: dailymail

Read more!

There's something p-p-peculiar about him: Rare white penguin spotted in Antarctica

By DANIEL MILLER

This rare all-white Chinstrap penguin stands out against his friends as he takes his morning waddle around Antarctica

This rare all-white Chinstrap penguin stands out against his friends as he takes his morning waddle around Antarctica.
The unusual bird was photographed by naturalist David Stephens during a nature expedition to the Aitcho Islands.
Chinstrap penguins' normal black-and-white colouring provides them with camouflage while they dive for fish.

All white: The penguin was spotted during a nature expedition to Antarctica

Rare: The condition known as leucism only occurs in around 1 in 146,000 penguins

The condition which causes the whiteness is known as leucism. It differs from albinism which is a total lack of skin pigment.
Mr Stephen, who works aboard Lindblad Expeditions' National Geographic Explorer ship, wrote in the daily expedition report: 'At the water’s edge stood a leucistic Chinstrap. 'This bird was whitish, but not quite an albino. Instead, it had pigmented eyes and a washed-out version of a Chinstrap’s normal pattern.
'Many wondered about this unusual bird’s chances of success. While odd coloration may make fishing a bit more difficult, leucistic birds are regularly found breeding normally.'

Blending in: Chinstrap penguins' black and white colouring camouflages them when they dive for fish

The unusual bird was photographed by naturalist David Stephen who works aboard Lindblad Expeditions National Geographic Explorer ship

Dyan deNapoli, a penguin expert and author of 'The Great Penguin Rescue, said the rate of leucism in Chinstrap penguins is about 1 in 146,000.
He added: 'It is a fairly rare phenomenon. When I was in Antarctica, I never saw one, and I saw a lot of penguins.' Lindblad Expeditions is a travel company which works in partnership with National Geographic, providing trips to both poles.
Spokeswoman Patty Disken-Cahill said: 'Expedition photography is a big component of our expeditions. 'The photography that comes out of our ships is pretty spectacular.'

source: dailymail

Read more!

Meet the incredible smiling seal! How an intrepid photographer crawled across the ice on his stomach to get these amazing images

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

All smiles: This Harp Seal pup appears to be smiling for the camera at Iles de la Madeleine in East Canada

Why wouldn't he be smiling? This Canadian Harp Seal gets to play all day in the snow and bask in the sunshine. Life for this little guy looks pretty sweet.
And he is not alone in enjoying life in the frozen far-flung corners of our planet.
He is also a little star as he poses wildlife photographer Keren Su in this remarkable snap. Keren shot the enchanting images in the remote Iles de la Madeleine in Eastern Canada. He had to travel by helicopter to the distant area and cross the ice to the seals by crawling on his stomach.
With unpredictable weather and not to mention working with animals the 60-year-old showed incredible patience to capture the seal pup at play.

Go on, tickle my tummy: This Harp Seal rolls over in the Eastern Canada snowy wastelands, he almost looks like he is asking for a belly rub

The lensman has travelled the globe dedicating years to perfecting the ideal picture.
And his most recent work also includes the marvellous Emperor penguin in its natural habitat of Antarctica.
Keren, who lives in Seattle, USA, has even cycled across his native China taking pictures using home-made equipment.

Time for a little nap: Puffed up and sleepy this pup catches forty winks in the Canadian winter sun

During his 24 years as a professional photographer he has compiled an impressive collection of captivating images.
But the father-of-one admitted he felt most at home in freezing temperatures coming face-to-face with the wintry wildlife.
Keren said: 'I love taking pictures in the snow just for the thrill of it. I went to the remote Iles de la Madeleine in East Canada to photograph the Harp Seals but I had to be patient because it's only accessible by helicopter and the weather was unpredictable.

It's all about ME! A young Emperor Penguin takes his cue centre stage from the camera on Show Hill Island in Antartica

'I was only allowed a limited time with the seals and in order to get the pictures I wanted I had to crawl on the ice so the pups wouldn't be afraid of a huge stranger.
'After they had gotten used to my smell I could get closer and closer until my camera was right in front of them.
'When they became relaxed they would behave in the cutest ways imaginable.

How did you lot get up there? A penguin struggles to get up onto the ice at Snow Hill Island in Antarctica

'They are only white for a small window of ten days but they are lovely with huge black eyes and fuzzy white hair.
'They are beautiful doll-like animals. They looked directly at me and I could practically see the question mark above their heads.
'I went to Snow Hill Island in Antarctica to photograph the Emperor Penguins and I spent a lot of time crawling on the snowy ice so that I could see the little penguins face to face.

I'll keep you warm: A penguin keeps her young close in the frozen wastes of Antarctica

'Winter is my favourite season, it's a romantic and poetic time to photograph animals.'
The Emperor Penguin is the tallest and heaviest of all living penguin species. Like all penguins it is flightless, with a streamlined body, and wings stiffened and flattened into flippers for a marine habitat.

source: dailymail

Read more!

Love in a cold climate: Romantic penguins 'hold hands' to melt the iciest of hearts

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER



Just the two of us: This romantic pair of penguins hold hands as their buddies congregate in the distance in Port Lockroy, a natural harbour in the Antarctic Peninsula



It might be chilly outside, but this snowy snap of a penguin couple holding hands is enough to melt even the coldest of hearts.

The perfect pair enjoyed a romantic clinch, opting for a moment of solitude while dozens of other penguins gathered nearby.

The heart-warming display of affection took place in Port Lockroy, a natural harbour in the Antarctic Peninsula. It was captured on camera by professional photographer Silviu Ghetie.



The pair stand hand in hand appearing to stare out at the dramatic vista of the frozen Antarctic landscape. Their heads tilted slightly toward one-and-other, they look as if they are feeling the quiet drama that love brings to inner life.

There they stay until their penguin pal wanders along, breaking the reverie. Then, still holding each other, they wander down to the icy waters and the rest of their friends.

Photographer Mr Ghetie, 43, from Baia Mare in Romania, usually takes pictures of people but he couldn't resist snapping this magic moment while on a polar expedition.



'What are you two up to? Oh, holding hands again': Lonely heart approaches the couple and seeing they are only interested in themselves, moves switfly on



He said: 'This is the first wildlife picture I have ever taken but it's actually very apt because it just goes to show you can find the same patterns in both nature and people.

'I started taking pictures primarily because I was amazed by the landscape. The light and the atmosphere was really interesting.

'Then as I walked forward the two penguins came into view.

'I always think penguins look very much like humans from behind anyway but this was particularly funny because they really did appear to be holding hands.



source: dailymail

Read more!

We're FREE! P-p-pitter-patter of happy feet as penguins rescued from oil spill are released back into the sea

By GAVIN ALLEN



Happy feet: These excited birds were among 49 Little Blue Penguins that were released back into the wild after months in captivity following an oil spill



Waddling as fast as their little legs can carry them, these excited penguins have good reason to be happy.

Their delighted flight towards the sealine on Mount Maunganui beach in Tauranga, New Zealand, follows almost two months in humane captivity.

When the hatches to their yellow and blue transport cases were opened by a mixture of wildlife workers and schoolchildren, some of the the 49 Little Blue Penguins peeked out carefully before emerging onto the sand.





Out of the box: The penguins were released onto the beach at Mount Maunganui in Tauranga by a mixture of schoolchildren and wildlife rescue experts



Helping hand: This Little Blue Penguin is encouraged by a wild life worker to head back to the sea after almost two months in captivity



With a mixture of confusion and excitement some ran in the wrong direction, others sought out their 'friends' and flapped around in circles before heading for the water, where they bobbed about in the surf.

They were the first group to be returned to the sea as part of a staged release programme over a period of weeks.

Wildlife officials nursed some 343 of the penguins back to health after they were effectively tarred and feathered when a cargo ship ran aground on a reef near Tauranga in early October, covering them in oil.

The 775ft-long vessel called the Rena became stranded on the rocks and its torn hull released some 400 tons of fuel into the ocean.



Ready, steady, go: Despite their obvious delight at being released back into the wild, some of the birds appeared momentarily confused as they emerged from their transport boxes



On the run: These penguins were among 343 that were saved following the oil spill by the Rena that claimed the lives of more than 2,000 sea birds



Studied: The penguins have all been microchipped so their movements can be monitored after their release into the wild



Oil spill: Cargo ship the Rena became responsible for the worst environmental disaster in New Zealand's history, sending some 400 tons of fuel into the ocean



It was New Zealand's worst sea pollution disaster and it killed more than 2,000 sea birds.

But these penguins were the lucky ones and, though they were a little weaker for their time being cleaned and pampered by the wildlife rescue staff, they were always destined to return to the ocean.

Wildlife Response Manager Kerri Morgan said that it is important wild penguins do not remain in captivity for too long because they can develop injuries and illnesses.

She said: 'It's been a little bit nerve-wracking and a long process to get here.'

The penguins were fitted with microchips so they can be monitored after their release.



source :dailymail

Read more!

A right pair of love birds: Are Buddy and Pedro the African penguins more than just friends?

By LYDIA WARREN



Inseparable: African male penguins Pedro and Buddy share a hug in their enclosure at Toronto Zoo. They have displayed examples of mating behaviour



They are often seen touching each other and leave together every night.

Now the bromance between Buddy and Pedro has got keepers at Toronto Zoo in a flap about whether or not the two African penguins are gay.

Keepers have noticed the duo are showing signs of mating behaviour, including braying and defending their territory.

But the relationship is not destined to last as the zoo intends to break them up.

As African penguins are endangered, the zoo must follow its species survival plan and pair them with females for breeding.

Buddy, 20, and Pedro, 10, are part of the African penguin exhibit that opened at the zoo in May.



Good mates: The penguins, who both moved to Toronto from Toledo, Ohio in May, preen each other. They also defend their territory and perform mating calls



But the relationship is not destined to last as the zoo intends to break them up.

As African penguins are endangered, the zoo must follow its species survival plan and pair them with females for breeding.

Buddy, 20, and Pedro, 10, are part of the African penguin exhibit that opened at the zoo in May.



But every night Buddy and Pedro pair off together.

'They do courtship and mating behaviours that females and males would do,' one keeper told the Toronto Star.

As a mating call, the penguins make a braying sound, like a donkey. They defend their territory, preen each other and stand alone together.

The keepers, who are aware of the bond, were surprised by the relationship.

'This is all new for us,' another keeper told the Star.

Joe Torzsok, chair of the Toronto zoo board, added: 'It’s a complicated issue, but they seem to be in a loving relationship of some sort.'



Flying solo: Keepers plan on separating the duo, who swim with the zoo's 10 other penguins in their enclosure (pictured) each day, to mate with females



Buddy and Pedro are not the first gay penguin couple to grace the world’s zoos.

As part of an experiment in 2009, two male chinstrap penguins at New York’s Central Park Zoo, incubated an egg together and raised the chick, named Tango, after she hatched.

A children’s book, entitled 'And Tango Makes Three', about the chick and her parents, Roy and Silo, became a bestseller.

Zoos in Japan, Germany and Sea World Orlando have also noted 'pair bonding' among penguins.



More than feathered friends: Research from the University of California, Berkeley has found that birds can form same-sex relationships for life



Buddy and Pedro’s relationship follows research from the University of California, Berkeley in April, which found birds can form gay relationships for life.

Scientists found that when raised in same-sex groups, more than half the birds paired up together.

When females were then brought into the male group, five out of eight pairs of males ignored them and stuck with their male partner.

Lead author Dr Julie Elie said: 'Relationships in animals can be more complicated than just a male and a female who meet and reproduce.

'My observations led me to this surprising result: same-sex individuals would also interact like male-female pairs.'

Other species of animals exhibit homosexual tendencies. Giraffes, dolphins and monkeys are known to form same-sex bonds.

source: dailymail

Read more!