*Penguin Awareness Day* Jan 20

Photo facts…

Two penguins dreaming sitting on a rock, mountains in the background.

Penguin Awareness Day is all about learning more about penguins, their environment and lifestyle, and the factors that contribute to their extinction. We will only be able to communicate the correct information to others if we continue to learn about them.

The sight of a small penguin waddling around in its icy homeland is truly endearing. Penguins live in the Southern Hemisphere and are classified as aquatic birds. Zooming in on the south of the equator, there are two types of natural habitats where penguins are found — sub Antarctic and temperate environments. Nearly 20 species of these fluffy creatures are known, of which the emperor penguins are the largest and the smallest are the penguins native to the coastal areas of New Zealand and Australia. The 2011 animated movie “Happy Feet” featured emperor penguins as the lead stars.

These flightless birds spend their days swimming and hunting for fish to eat. Leading peaceful lives, penguins are harmless but are hunted by predators such as whales, sharks, and seals. This is why penguins are seen in groups, to distract potential hunters. Penguins have always been the subject of great intrigue, with a long list of cartoon movies and documentaries attributed to them.

Unfortunately, penguins are decreasing in population and the exact reason is still to be known. Some researchers found that the plummeting number of krill was the cause; the Malacostraca species is only two inches in length but is significant in the world food chain. Other researchers claim that climate change and changing environments are the cause.

Whatever the reason be, our penguin friends need our help. By researching, collecting information, and spreading it through the right mediums, we can save the birds from extinction altogether.