Let’s be real. Who doesn’t love penguins? Why wouldn’t you? They are adorable, funny, diligent, devoted (they mate for life, you know), and just all around sweet flightless creatures that never hurt anybody. The sight of a small penguin waddling around in its icy homeland is truly endearing. But did you know that the number of the world’s penguins is dwindling? That’s why penguins, and Penguin Awareness Day, celebrated on January 20 every year, needs your attention.
Perhaps you didn’t know that penguins are struggling. Perhaps the rapidly shrinking population of penguins every year goes mostly unnoticed because their natural habitat is usually where humans don’t live. According to National Today, 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 — subantarctic and temperate environments.
The 2011 animated movie “Happy Feet” featured emperor penguins as the lead stars. However, there are 20 species of these fluffy creatures, of which the emperor penguins are the largest and the smallest are the penguins native to the coastal areas of New Zealand and Australia.
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. While the exact reason hasn’t been pinpointed, 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. And many other researchers state that climate change causing the penguin environments to shrink and/or disappear 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.
Here are some ways you can raise your awareness of Penguins today.
- Learn about penguins. 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.
- Spend time with penguins. Take a trip to your local zoo or aquatic center and observe penguins. You’d be surprised at how fascinating it can be!
- Watch an animated feature. Put on an episode of “Pingu” or a documentary like “March Of The Penguins (2005),” or the above-mentioned “Happy Feet,” to really get into the spirit of the day. There’s nothing better than cuddling up and watching these little creatures!
—
Photo Credit: vladsilver / Shutterstock.com