...By Henry George for TDPel Media.
Every year on April 25, World Penguin Day is celebrated worldwide in honor of penguins.
The day aims to raise awareness of the dangers faced by penguins and to preserve the species for future generations.
This year’s celebration aligns with the yearly migration of penguins, which begins around this time in Antarctica.
Why Do We Celebrate World Penguin Day?
Adult emperor penguins on the ice
The day was started in 1972 when researcher Gerry Wallace, working at the McMurdo Station in the Antarctic, discovered that Adélie penguins began their migration around this date every year.
Wallace launched the awareness day to encourage others to learn more about penguins and their contributions to the environment.
What Is the Status of Penguins?
Of the 18 species of penguins in the world, wildlife experts have warned that 10 of them are listed as endangered.
Therefore, the day is an opportunity to raise awareness about their precarious status and encourage people to act to protect them.
Why Can’t Penguins Fly?
Penguins are flightless birds, but they can use their flippers to ‘fly’ through water, which is denser than air.
They have shorter wings than other birds, and their heavy bodies have solid bones instead of the hollow bones typical of flying birds.
How to Take Part in World Penguin Day?
You can take part in World Penguin Day in many ways.
You can watch the Disney Nature documentary, Penguins, which tells the tale of Steve, the Adélie penguin, and his challenges in starting his own family in Antarctica.
A keeper watches a pair of Humbolt penguins as they are counted during the annual stocktake at Marwell Zoo in Winchester
You can also visit zoos, such as Marwell, Chessington, and London Zoo, to see penguins up close.
Additionally, the WWF has a program where you can sponsor a penguin and receive information on the threats facing them.
In conclusion, World Penguin Day aims to raise awareness of the importance of penguins and the dangers they face as a result of human activity.
It is a day to celebrate and honor the lives of penguins while recognizing the need to protect them for future generations.
