Emperor Penguin Chicks

Covered in soft, gray down, emperor penguin chicks are completely dependent on their parents for survival. During incubation and the first 50 days of their lives, penguin chicks and eggs keep warm by perching on top of their parents’ feet. Male penguins incubate the egg for two months without eating a single meal, while females forage for food. When the female penguins finally return, they take over child-rearing duties while the hungry males gratefully go in search of a meal. As timeless as this ritual is, emperor penguins now face an uncertain future as the Antarctic too begins to warm.

Scientific name: Aptenodytes forsteri
Region: Oceans