5 Penguin Myths and Misconceptions -- A World Penguin Day Special
Penguins are well-loved the world over. Their trademark two-toned coloring and adorable waddling gait makes them instantly recognizable to young and old alike. However, despite their popularity (or perhaps because of it), a lot of misinformation has sprung up around our flightless friends. In honor of World Penguin Day on April 25th, lets look at five penguin myths and misconceptions. Can you sort out fact from fiction?
Penguins are well-loved the world over. Their trademark two-toned coloring and adorable waddling gait makes them instantly recognizable to young and old alike. However, despite their popularity (or perhaps because of it), a lot of misinformation has sprung up around our flightless friends. In honor of World Penguin Day on April 25th, lets look at five penguin myths and misconceptions. Can you sort out fact from fiction?
MYTH: Penguins live at the North Pole
This myth seems to crop up especially around Christmastime, with adverts and greeting cards showing penguins rubbing shoulders with polar bears, or gallivanting with Santa and his elves. The truth is, there are no wild penguin species living north of the equator.
On a similar note, it's often thought that penguins are only found at the SouthPole. While the standard image of penguins battling blizzards in Antarctica is not untrue, there are also a number of penguin species native to warm regions such as Australia, Africa, and even the Galapagos islands!
MYTH: All penguins live in giant colonies
Penguins are known as social creatures, and it's true that some colonies are so large that they can be seen from space! However, not all penguin species prefer close quarters. The Yellow-eyed penguins of New Zealand build their nests in secluded patches of jungle, out of sight of other penguins. Fiordland penguins (also found in New Zealand) are known to nest in caves!
MYTH: Penguins don't have knees
At first glance, this myth might seem to be true, because a pudgy penguin's legs are nearly nonexistent below their round bellies. In fact, penguins do have knees -- they're just hidden under all the fat and feathers. Tucked inside their bodies, penguin knees are hard to see -- until you take a look at their skeleton. On an x-ray, penguin knees are plain as day.
MYTH: Penguins are cuddly
With their plump bodies and clumsy movements, penguins seem a bit like puppies, the sort you just want to scoop up and hug. In truth, there are several reasons why that's not a good idea! Penguins can be surprisingly aggressive is threatened, and a bike from their beaks or solid thwack from their dense wings is no joke -- just ask any penguin keeper! Finally, many wild penguin species are protected by law, and interacting with them could lead to a heavy fine.
MYTH: Penguins are plentiful
The common image of giant penguin colonies might lead people to believe that penguins are plentiful on earth. And while some penguin species are thriving in the wild, others find themselves in peril. African penguins, Emperor penguins, Erect-crested penguins, Galapagos penguins, Northern rockhopper penguins, and Yellow-eyed penguins are all listed as Endangered by the International Union for the Conversation of Nature (IUCN). Man-made threats such as habitat destruction, pollution, and over-fishing have greatly impacted these penguin species. On World Penguin Day, especially, it is important to reflect on these issues and work together to make a difference for penguins.
To learn more about threats to penguins and how you can help, you can revisit my post from African Penguin Awareness Day or check out the links below.
Resources
How Can You Help Penguins? -- Penguins International
Do Penguins Have Knees? (Anatomy, Why They Waddle, +FAQs) -- Birdfact
Penguins: The Ultimate Guide Second Edition (Amazon link -- I'm not affiliated with Amazon in any way, I just really love this book!)