Gfpacificbee’s Insights & photography

It is World Penguin 🐧 Day. I didn’t even know there was a day to celebrate Penguins. Did you? Think you know all there is to know about Penguins? Maybe, or maybe not. There are many interesting facts about penguins that I did not know about before. Let’s learn more about them together.

Did you know there are around 17 or 18, possibly more, different species of Penguins? I sure did not know there were that many different types. All Penguins live in the Southern Hemisphere. Although, some Galápagos penguins tend to straddle the equator occasionally. Penguins inhabit extremely cold regions, like the Antarctic. The penguins of the Antarctic are probably the ones you think of when you hear penguins. However, not all penguins live in the Antarctic. Many live in temperate regions, like In Melbourne, Australia. [ I never considered penguins living in Australia before, new fact for me, perhaps you as well]. The penguins which live in Australia are known as Fairy penguins or little penguins. These are the smallest species of penguins.

Penguins have feathers 🪶, not fur. Their feathers provide excellent insulation which enable them to survive in extremely cold environments. One other factor about the feathers is their ability to repel ice.

Penguins do not have teeth. It is interesting, though, that they do have spines inside their beaks which can look 👀 a little teeth-like. They also have spines on their tongues. All their spines point backwards. [Learn something new every day]. Penguins eat a variety of fish and crustaceans. The larger the penguin, the deeper they dive for food. Their food is swallowed whole and later regurgitated for their young chicks.

Penguins are monogamous, but only for a season. The next season they may stick with their mate or choose a new one. They have the ability to drink salt water. [yuck, I can’t stand salt].

The Penguin populations are declining. What can we, as humans, do to help them? Most of the ways involve keeping the animal’s home and breeding grounds—the ocean —clean and healthy. The following are other ways you can help:

• Only buy and eat fish from responsibly managed fisheries. Over fishing limits the available food for Penguins.
• Support the creation of marine reserves. At marine preserves, all animal and plant life are protected from fishing.
• Support legislation that fights climate change or supports carbon reduction goals.
• Do you best to use less power, drive less, and otherwise use less energy to reduce your contribution impact on climate change.

God Bless. Happy World Penguin Day! Do your part to help preserve the Penguin populations. Thank you! Remember I appreciate y’all.