Hyderabad: World Penguin Day, observed on April 25 every year across the globe, coincides with the northern migration of Adélie penguins, marking their journey towards Antarctica in search of food as the winter months approach.
The Day was first observed in 1972 when Gerry Wallace wrote the event on his wife’s (Aleta’s) calendar in Alamogordo, California. The celebration later expanded to the Naval Weapons Center in Ridgecrest, California, where the Penguin Patrol gained attention.
Adélie penguins, the focal point of the day, undertake this migration pattern annually, moving northward for better access to food during winter and returning to the coastal beaches of Antarctica for nesting during summer.
History of World Penguin Day
McMurdo Station, an American research center on Ross Island, played a pivotal role in establishing World Penguin Day. Scientists there observed the Adélie penguins embarking on their migration around this time each year.
Thus, World Penguin Day emerged as a means to commemorate this natural phenomenon and raise awareness about these captivating creatures. While initially centered on the Adélie penguin's migration, the day now celebrates all penguin species, shedding light on their conservation status. Among the approximately 17 recognized species, up to 10 are categorized as endangered or vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), with three considered near threatened.
Threats on Penguins
Penguins face numerous threats, primarily stemming from human activities such as overfishing and pollution. Their heavy reliance on oceans for sustenance renders them susceptible to the consequences of habitat degradation and marine pollution. Plastic and oil spills pose significant hazards to penguin populations, contributing to their decline and disrupting the delicate balance of marine ecosystems.
Timeline of World Penguin Day
A glimpse into the timeline of penguin discovery and recognition reveals a rich history dating back centuries. From the first recorded sightings by Vasco da Gama's crew in 1497 to the naming of the day in 1972 by Gerry Wallace, penguins have fascinated explorers and researchers alike. The term "penguin" initially referred to a different bird species, the great auk, before European travelers encountered the flightless birds of the Southern Hemisphere and bestowed upon them the same name.
Facts About Penguins
- The average penguin lifespan is 15 to 20 years.
- Penguins can weigh anywhere between 2 and 88 pounds (0.9kgs to 40kgs).
- Penguins cannot fly, but they can swim up to 15 miles-per-hour.
- Roughly two-thirds of all penguin species are considered threatened and remain on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.
- The Galapagos Penguin is the only penguin species to naturally travel north of the equator.
- Zero penguins actually live at the North Pole.
- Penguins are able to safely drink ocean water.
- Emperor Penguins are the tallest of the penguin species, standing up to 120cm tall but sizes vary between 40cms to 114cms.
- Penguins eat a range of fish and other sea life that they catch underwater.
- Penguins can drink sea water.
- Penguins spend around half their time in water and the other half on land.
