Can you believe there’s a whole day dedicated to these tuxedo-clad, waddling wonders? Well, there is – it’s today, January 20th, and I thought it would be the perfect excuse to dive into the world of penguins.

I’m completely mesmerised by these charismatic and captivating creatures. But beneath their adorable exteriors lies a whole lot of fascinating facts. As ‘Guardians of the Antarctic’ penguins are iconic symbols, embodying the resilience of life in one of the most extreme environments on Earth but unfortunately, they face some very real threats. So, on Penguin Awareness Day, let’s get clued up on all things penguin!

First off, did you know there are 18 different penguin species? They range in size from the mighty Emperor penguin, standing at an impressive 3 feet tall, to the little Blue Penguin that we saw off the coast at Australia, which is about the size of a small toy poodle. That’s a lot of penguin diversity and here’s just a few of them.

Rockhoppers in the Falklands
Chinstraps taking a dip
Couple of Kings…
Gentoo Penguin nesting
What a cutie! Baby King

They may not be able to fly in the sky, but penguins are total rockstars underwater and therefore somewhat of a paradox of nature – flightless birds that are masters of the water. Their streamlined bodies and powerful flippers make them incredible swimmers, reaching speeds of up to 20 miles per hour with incredible agility. In fact the Gentoo penguin that you see above, are the world’s fastest underwater birds and can reach up to 22 miles per hour (36 kmph)- can you imagine trying to keep up with them in the water? Emperor penguins are the deepest diving, up to 1,740 feet (530 metres).

But penguins aren’t all about speed and agility. They’re also devoted parents. Both mum and dad take turns incubating their eggs and keeping their chicks warm and safe. It’s a real team effort and often in the most adverse of environments. Often described as ‘social architects’ as their intricate social structures and communal nesting colonies demonstrate remarkable cooperation and interdependence. Although sometimes there’s a little falling out with the neighbours or disagreement over nesting boundaries, just take a look at this video from my South Georgia and Antarctica visit.

Did you know:

  • a group of penguins is called a ‘Raft’ if they are on water and a ‘waddle’ if a group is on land! Now that’s an apt word for them on land.
  • penguins sneeze to get rid of the water they take in when they are hunting for their food.
  • Gentoo penguins have the most distinctively prominent tail and it sweeps from side to side when they waddle – it’s very cute!
  • penguins have excellent hearing – well of course, that’s how they recognise their mates when returning to the breeding ground. Where they will do their utmost to mate with the same member of the opposite sex season after season. Very romantic.
  • It’s a penguin’s feathers that trap warmth next to their skin, an insulting layer that helps them survive the cold temperatures.
  • scientists can now find penguin colonies from space – they just look for the dark poo patches!

Here’s the thing, though. These amazing creatures are facing some serious challenges. Climate change is a major threat, with rising sea temperatures causing habitat loss and making it harder for penguins to find food. Pollution is another big worry, with plastic debris harming their health and ecosystems, with of course overfishing decreasing their food supplies.

So, what can we do to help penguins waddle into a brighter future? There are ways we can all get involved, even from our cozy corners of the world. We can support organisations working to conserve penguin populations and their habitats. We can make conscious choices to reduce our impact on the environment, like cutting down on single-use plastics, choosing non-krill oil based supplements and reducing the human demand for fish. And of course, we can spread the word and raise awareness about these incredible birds which is the positive way to influence change.

Every little bit helps, and by working together, we can make a real difference for penguins. So, let’s celebrate Penguin Awareness Day by learning more about these fascinating creatures and taking action to protect them. After all, a world without penguins would be a much sadder place, wouldn’t you agree?

Here are some resources to get you started: