Thursday, January 2, 2025

Jan. 1/2025

 

Torre Argentina (Roman Cat Sanctuary)

Added By Annetta Black

Roman Cat Sanctuary - Atlas Obscura

About

In Rome the cats have an ancient temple-complex all to themselves.

Known as Largo di Torre Argentina, this archaeological wonder was excavated as part of Mussolini's rebuilding efforts in 1929, revealing 4 Republican victory-temples that lie sunken 20 feet below modern street level.  In addition to the remains of 4 different temples, Torre Argentina also contains part of the famous portico of Pompey.

Today, volunteers at Torre Argentina care for approximately 130 cats, many of which are disabled or suffer from illness. After the site was excavated, Rome's feral cats moved in immediately, as they do all over the city, & the gattare, or cat ladies, began feeding & caring for them. Since the mid-1990s, the population has grown from about 90 to a peak of 250, & the organization has ramped up with care for sick or wounded cats, as well as an extensive spay & neuter program to keep the feral population in check. Most of the permanent residents have special needs—they are blind or missing legs or came from abusive homes.

On any given afternoon a small crowd gathers here to watch the cats sunbathe on ancient pillars & steps. At first it may be hard to spot the cats, but once you start to see them, they are everywhere. Visitors can admire the cats & their ruins from street level, or head down the steps to the underground office to volunteer, peruse the gift shop, donate, & even adopt cats.

There is another Roman cat sanctuary located at the Protestant Cemetery, near the Pyramid of Cestius.

Cute Critter Pics:



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Wednesday, December 25, 2024

Dec. 25/2024

 

How To Keep Your Pets Safe During The Holidays: Tips For Pet-Proofing Your Home

By Adam Symchuk

11/25/2024 

Read More: https://www.cuteness.com/1722380/how-to-keep-pets-safe-holidays-pet-proofing-home/

The holidays are hectic, & you may find yourself dealing with decorations, baking, cooking, & hosting, all compacted into a short period. It's undoubtedly a time to celebrate with friends & family, make merry memories, & manage a chaotic schedule backed by the need to keep things moving smoothly. For many pet parents, playful pups or cute cats are the center of their world, & their schedules & needs often work around ensuring their companions stay healthy & happy. However, the holidays can bring challenges, & you can't always put them at the forefront when you have many commitments & plans.

The rush of the holidays can expose our companions to unexpected accidents, whether getting into something they shouldn't, becoming tempted by seasonal scents, or just trying to navigate the sudden influx of people around them. However, with proper preparation, you can easily avoid unwanted accidents & broken Christmas ornaments by considering your pet's needs in advance. The holidays will always be work, but here are some ways to ensure your pets have a safe & happy household so they can enjoy the season with you.

Tether your Christmas tree

For many, the holiday season starts as soon as the Christmas tree goes up, acting as a centerpiece as you deck the halls & begin your holiday preparations. But this tall-standing holiday monolith poses a potential problem for pets, with that shiny star or angel on the top potentially turning the evening into a horror story of your cat vs. the Christmas tree. Or, your inquisitive pooch sniffing around the base can lead to a tumbling tree if they get startled. For the sake of your hard work & the safety of your pets, consider securing & tethering your tree to ensure it stays upright.

You will want your Christmas tree to be as straight & tight as possible. That means buying a solid base. If you have an existing one, examine it for any wear & tear, such as loose screws or joints. You can also use wooden shims or cardboard to help stabilize the base by wedging them in. While you may be hesitant to put holes in your wall, putting 2 hook screws behind the tree & running fishing wire through the hooks & around the tree is ideal to keep it secure. If you're worried about a potential eyesore, you can always place pet-friendly decorations on the hook, like a large bow, & use the same spot for your tree next year.

Use a baby gate or obstacle to ensure your pet stays indoors

Every pet parent has a different view of their companion's boundaries. Some may already have gates to keep their dog in or out of an area; others let them have full command of their kingdom. While your dog's wandering may be more manageable outside of the holidays, you may consider creating a barrier with many people going in & out. If your dog is prone to distractions, running outside could be dangerous with traffic coming in & out, cold temperatures embracing them, or salt from the streets hurting their paws.

You can get a top-rated pet-specific gate, but an approved & tested baby gate will also work. For example, the Cumbor 29.7-46" Baby Gate for Stairs comes in multiple sizes to fit your needs. If you need a quick fix, you can use sturdy cardboard to make a barrier or other big household items (like a step ladder on its side) to block off a path. Just be mindful of tripping hazards for yourself, & avoid using something with sharp edges for your pet's safety. For the curious kitty, you can purchase a cute sign that reminds visitors to be mindful not to let the cat out or make a festive-themed one yourself. The sign won't stop your feline from seeking freedom, but visitors will be more aware of a potential escape artist at their feet.

Get to know your holiday plants & keep them secure or out of reach

Part of decorating homes during the holidays includes bringing in seasonal plants. Whether you want to kiss someone under the mistletoe or have a large poinsettia as a highlight of your festive decor, an influx of greenery can come into the home during Christmas. Unfortunately, much of the seasonal flora, including amaryllis, snowdrops, holly, mistletoe, poinsettias, & yew, is poisonous to pets. Your Christmas tree can also be problematic if a pet ingests its needles. You may want to consider alternatives like a synthetic or artistic tree in a lively household.

The potential danger doesn't mean you must give up on these plants entirely; there's a way to dissuade your pets from chewing on them. For dogs, you want to find places where these will be out of reach, or you can create a barrier around a larger plant, like a poinsettia, with a wooden gate. Furthermore, you can buy pet-deterrent sprays online, like the Nature's Miracle Advanced Platinum Cat Pet Block Repellent Spray, but you can also use homemade solutions. And, of course, keep in mind that the same spray may not work equally for all pets. 

Cats are known to turn their nose away from citrus, so putting lemon or orange peels at the base of the plant can act as a natural deterrent, or dilute lemon juice & spray your plant; don't use essential oils, as they can be toxic to your pets. Even with these suggestions, monitoring your furry friend to ensure these measures work is necessary, or you can simply decorate with flowers that won't harm your pets.

Keep food stored away

Much like festive flora, the holidays are a time of preparing meals & baking that you only indulge in during the season. Any pet parent can attest to the allure of cooking chicken or turkey & how involved in the process a kitty or pooch becomes. To be safe, you may want to avoid letting anyone give your pet Christmas treats unless you approve. We've even previously gathered the Christmas dinner foods that are safe for cats & dogs to eat. Still, popular festive snacks like chocolate, grapes, coffee, alcohol, & baking that includes xylitol can all be highly toxic. Fatty & salty foods aren't healthy for your pet, & onions, chives, leeks, or garlic won't be deadly in minute doses but are still toxic if consumed in large quantities.

Keep food out of reach of pets, & if you're putting out baked goods, consider having them in a sealed container instead of laying out in the open. While your pooch should stay grounded, a cat can bravely leap to investigate potential meals. When decorating, make sure you don't take away your cat's high places so they still have a place to observe everything going on & will be less tempted to jump onto your counter. You can create deterrents to jumping by using towels on the edge so if they jump up, they slide off; placing baking tins in front of the baked goods to create a noisy deterrent; or attaching double-sided pet tape to the edge of any counters or tables.

Secure your garbage can

One person's trash is potentially a treasure trove for a pet. This temptation is particularly strong during the holidays when food flows & garbage fills with wondrous scents to a nosey cat or dog. While the best way to avoid temptation is to take out any food waste or use a separate compost for food, this won't be the case in every household as the merriment commences. If you thought ahead or had issues with pets sniffing around the garbage, you may have already gone out & got a pet-proof touch-sensor garbage can, like the iTouchless 13 Gallon Dog Proof Trash Can. Still, there are other ways to keep those busy-bodies out of the trash.

The easiest solution to keep pets from rummaging through a trash can is to store it out of reach, like behind a gate or in an enclosed space. If this is not an option, you can also secure most garbage lids with a child safety lock (on both sides to ensure no spillage if they knock it over). You can also try homemade sprays, like diluted lemon juice or vinegar, to dissuade them from getting too close. While some homemade sprays include cayenne pepper, only use this hot spice in very small quantities, as it can cause irritation.

Bundle your wires & keep them out of reach

Whether you're running more lights or moving stuff around so you can swap between tunes & TV, you'll likely have many more wires running through the house come the holidays. Wires can present a hazard for any pet, whether they're chewing or getting tangled in them. With so many new obstacles & shiny lights brought into the house for our furry friends, it can get messy.

Going wireless is certainly an option with modern decorating options, & you can also minimize any risk by turning off lights when not in use. If your setup is wire-heavy, there are ways to deter pets from getting tangled or chewing. Hiding & covering hazards is an excellent preventive measure, but with exposed wires, you can use wraps to keep them together & apply 2-sided tape to deter a pet from picking at them. You can also place wires beside a training mat, with the mat's texture acting as a deterrent from a prolonged investigation of the spot. Another option employed by rabbit parents, seeing as rabbits are active nibblers, is to run the wires through PVC piping.

Pick or make pet-friendly decorations

Tinsel has been going out of fashion for a good reason; it's not environmentally friendly, it makes a mess, & it can be a hazard to your pet. Yet, old traditions die hard, & come winter, some families still use it to decorate. At the same time, a tree full of shiny ornaments can catch the eye of a kitty who wants to investigate closer, or a hanging candy cane could be a potential steal for a confident doggo. Ingested tinsel can cause blockage, a broken ornament is a hazard for everyone, & treats on a tree can be poisonous. So, as you deck the halls, you'll want to consider options that will be less dangerous to an inquisitive kitty or pooch.

Ribbons have become the go-to for decorating, & you can find plenty of online inspiration to make them unique to your tastes. Bows are a better alternative, but you still want to ensure they won't be a choking hazard (stick to larger bows). Avoid ornaments that break easily; if you have one that's a family heirloom or tradition, consider hanging it up elsewhere & out of reach of any paws or snoots. You can also use the holiday to celebrate your little companion by making themed, safe ornaments for the tree. If you're only worrying about a canine, you can still use traditional decorations on a tree, but consider having a smaller one up high on a table that's out of reach.

Set up a safe space for your pet where they can unwind

Even the most extroverted person needs some downtime to reconnect with themselves & find a moment of peace to reflect. The same goes for our furry companions, & while they may always seem to want to be involved in everything we do, a full household can offer too much stimulation. A dog needs downtime to destress & avoid anxiety, while a kitty needs its own space to feel secure. Having these taken away during the holidays may not be unsafe, but it adds unnecessary stress that can see them acting out in ways that could lead to an accident.

For the holidays, you can create a pet zone in your home. Offer them all their favorite things — check out our list of the best dog beds for every budget & preference —& have some relaxing noises or scents to help drown out everything happening around the home. You can even discuss with guests that the space is off-limits, particularly to kids who don't always understand boundaries. If you're hosting for the first time & your furry companions aren't used to others, you can also prepare in advance by having planned guests over for short bursts (10 minutes) & build up to longer stays. This is their home, too, & you'll want to ensure they don't lose that with an influx of people and noise during the holidays.

Ditch the traditional candles & lighting

Candles & Christmas lights bring a certain ambiance to the holidays that's hard to quantify. There's a warmness & calmness when surrounded by the holiday glow. Yet, open flames can burn a cat that's weaving its way across a space, or a dog might find comfort in the warm lights only to find their skin getting burned. Candles can be dangerous to use around pets, & your moment of solitude can turn into chaos when you realize one of your little ones has hurt themselves.

Luckily, you can still immerse yourself in a holiday glow while keeping your furry friend's skin & fur safe. Candle warmers are a great alternative, as they allow you to melt wax & get those comforting scents without an open flame; you can even get a festive one, like the Loowoko Christmas Candle Warmer Lamp. If you're thinking of updating your Christmas lights, LED is a better option to keep the voltage & heat low for any puppy that might find itself snoozing by the Christmas tree. You can also get crafty & make holiday-themed mason jar lights; just ensure any breakable decorations are kept in a safe spot.

Keep your pets mentally stimulated

While entertaining your guests, you may pay less attention to a beloved pooch or cat. An ignored dog can lead to boredom — & to problematic behavior. You may not be able to play with them as much, & they may feel a bit anxious if the cold keeps them from their regular walks. While cats are often considered solitary creatures, stimulation is just as essential to their mental well-being. You don't want your furry friends to feel left out, but there are ways you can keep them occupied & involve them in the festivities.

Pet-themed holiday gifts aren't just for people; you can give your pets early gifts to help keep them content. Cats can be relatively easy to please; hold onto some of those holiday boxes & build a fort to play in, or use corks to make a DIY toy. For your naturally inquisitive pooch, you can look at mental stimulation toys & pick a treat puzzle toy, like the Interactive Dog Treat Puzzle Toys, to keep your pup's mind busy. 

There are DIY options for your pooch as well. Consider playing a game of "find the treat" by placing something special inside one of a few small boxes, & let them sniff it out. Chews are a great time sink & distraction. You can make an affordable & healthy snack by cutting up thin lengths of sweet potato & dehydrating it in the oven or air fryer. You can even sprinkle it with a bit of cinnamon to give it a festive scent.

Wait until Christmas to place your presents under the tree

Part of the holiday anticipation for those with kids (& adults who are young at heart) is seeing presents under the tree & counting down to the moment you finally open them up. Yet, with their pretty bows & potential treasures, these bright boxes can be just as intriguing to a dog or cat. The last thing you want is to wake up & find a present that's already been opened & destroyed, or, even worse, that a dog that can't eat chocolates got into a box of them meant for a loved one.

For displaying presents, consider having them stored away & bringing them out just before the little ones wake up so you can keep an eye on them. If you want the boxes to brighten your holiday decor, consider putting them on a table beside the tree to keep out of reach of dogs. And you can still display presents this way in a multi-pet household; just ensure there are no choking hazards & that the presents won't get knocked over by a cat. Another option for those with a more petite pooch is to place a gate around the tree & presents. You can even get Christmas-themed ones, like the Blulu Christmas Tree Gate.

Your yard also needs some pet-proofing

You'll also want to consider your yard when pet-proofing for the holidays, as outdoor activities have potential risks. Decorations must be secured, & lights placed to avoid tangling. The cold can do a number on an unprepared pooch, & winter can bring unsafe temperatures for pets. When temperatures get below freezing, many dog breeds can only be out for short bursts.

You'll want to ensure inflatables are safely secured. Stakes, additional tethers, & weights will all help ensure one doesn't take off into the path of a (now) terrified doggo. Then, lighting should be out of reach or secured tightly to prevent tangling. Any consideration for inside decorations should be the same for outside decorations.

If you're playing the role of a gracious host, ask people not to let your dog out without asking you so that you're aware of where they are at all times. A quick pee could turn into a freezing & potentially dangerous outside stay in a backyard. Drinking responsibly to holiday music with friends or trying to entertain excited kids can cause one to forget about their pet's bathroom break, so set a one-minute timer on your phone to help you remember to check on your furry friend.

Cute Christmas Critters:



Christmas Chuckle


Slava Ukraine!




Thursday, December 19, 2024

Dec. 18/2024



 26 Penguin Facts to Make You Waddle With Joy! [2024] Part 2

By Scott

https://birdwatchinghq.com/penguin-facts/

Fact #14: “Some penguins are gay. Get over it.”

The following banner hangs over the penguin exhibit in the London Zoo during Gay Pride Week!

Most of the time, when animals form bonds, it is for mating & reproduction. However, penguins don’t always follow that trend.

First observed over a century ago, homosexual penguins are a somewhat common occurrence to witness. In fact, some homosexual penguin couples in zoos have successfully raised adopted chicks!

Fact #15: Penguins are the “National Animal” of…

Antarctica!

Wow! What an honor! Go penguins!

Not to diminish this award, but they don’t have much competition. The only other animals that live in Antarctica are a few whales and seals.

But hey, it’s still pretty awesome!

Fact #16: They come in all shapes & sizes!

The largest species of penguin is the Emperor Penguin.  Both males & females stand up to 48 inches tall (122 cm)!

The smallest member of the penguin family is the rather uncreatively named Little Penguin.  It stands only 13 inches tall (33 cm) & is seen most often in Australia & New Zealand. To put this in perspective, it’s not long before an Emperor chick is larger than a full-grown Little Penguin!

Interestingly, it seems that no one likes the name Little Penguin. Australians, unhappy with the silly name, have dubbed it the Fairy Penguin, due to its diminutive stature.  In New Zealand, they like to call it the Little Blue Penguin, or simply the Blue Penguin.

Fact #17: Penguins are tasty for predators, but disgusting for humans.

As we mentioned earlier, penguins are efficient hunters that prey on large numbers of fish & krill.

However, many predators like to eat penguins.

While swimming in the ocean, penguins can be hunted by several animals, including Leopard Seals, Weddell Seals, Orcas, & sharks.

As they are waddling on land, penguins are targets for some birds, including the Skua & Australian Sea Eagle. And depending on where they live, certain penguin species & their eggs are vulnerable to rats, foxes, snakes, & cats.

I found it interesting that penguins probably taste disgusting to humans. No person has eaten one for a long time since they are a protected species, but there are a few accounts of early Antarctica explorers trying these birds.

Supposedly, the penguins were not very good. A Belgian seaman gave this description in 1898:

“If it’s possible to imagine a piece of beef, odiferous codfish, & a canvas-backed duck roasted together in a pot, with blood & cod-liver oil for sauce, the illustration would be complete.”

I also read that any animal that only eats fish as its primary food source is not particularly tasty to eat.

Fact #18: Their tuxedos are not just to look good.

The black and white coloring of a penguin reminds most people that they are always wearing a tuxedo.

But their formal coloration is actually an adaptation. It provides some pretty convincing camouflage to help avoid being eaten by a shark, seal, or whale!

Imagine you are a predator hunting a penguin in the ocean. If you are swimming above the penguins looking down, the black on their backs looks like the color of deep water. The penguins would be hard to see!

Now imagine you are that same predator, but you are swimming underneath the penguins & you look up. The white on their bellies blends in with the light coming from the surface!

Many other animals have adapted this same coloration, including orcas.

Fact #19: They have been around a LONG time.

The oldest penguin fossils ever discovered were from 60 million years ago! They were found in the shallow seas off New Zealand’s east coast & are officially called the Waimanu penguin.

During this period, New Zealand had already separated from Australia & Antarctica. It was a chunk of land that was much closer to the South Pole.

Researchers have indicated that its long bill & condensed wing bones show that it would be quite at home eating & swimming in today’s Antarctica!

This information indicates that an ancestor of the birds we see today survived the mass extinction of the dinosaurs!

Fact #20: They have better “hair” than 80’s rock bands!

Some species of penguins have some pretty impressive “hairstyles”!

First, check out the signature look of the Macaroni Penguin.

Even though Emperor Penguins get a lot of popularity, Macaroni Penguins are the most common species, with an estimated 18 million living on the planet.

However, the Southern Rockhopper Penguin goes it one better with their gel-spiked crewcut designed to impress the ladies. To attract mates, rockhopper penguins literally shake their heads around to make their yellow crests twirl, just like a headbanging rock star. (Seriously!)

I think the Fiordland Penguin pulls it off best with simple, sleek yellow hair running alongside their heads. I don’t think I’d want to run across one in a dark alley!

Fact #21: Not all penguins are black & white.

As you know, most penguins are a combination of black & white, typically having black backs with white fronts. But once in a while, you will find a bird that doesn’t look like your typical penguin.

It is incredibly rare, but it is possible to see a penguin that is all BLACK!

This Emperor Penguin has a mutation called melanism that causes all of its feathers to be entirely black!

Not to be outdone, it’s also possible to see a WHITE penguin!

This “blond” Chinstrap Penguin is leucistic. It’s not considered albino because there is a bit of patterning on its back. Regardless, it’s an incredibly rare sighting. Unfortunately, this mutation puts the penguin more at-risk to predators because it stands out among the crowd.

Fact #22: They can hold their breath for a LONG time.

Penguins primarily eat fish and krill in the ocean. In order to catch their prey, some penguin species have to dive REALLY deep, which means they have to hold their breath for a long time, up to 20 minutes for some!

Here are a few of the more impressive species:

Emperor Penguin: This species is the diving champion. The longest recorded dive lasted 22 minutes! They regularly dive between 100-200m (328-656 feet), but the deepest on record is 565m (1853 feet)!

King Penguin: They usually dive down to around 100m (328 feet), but the deepest was recorded at 500m (1640 feet). And they can hold their breath for 20 minutes!

Gentoo Penguin: They can hold their breath for up to 7 minutes & regularly dive as low as 200m (656 feet).

Fact #23: Forget the diamond ring. Penguins want a rock!

To help attract a mate, male Gentoo Penguins give pebbles to females.

She will then inspect the offer. If it’s accepted, then she takes the rock & adds it to her nest.

Adélie Penguins also exhibit the same behavior towards pebbles, & they treat these rocks as prized possessions. If a female Adélie accepts a stone, then it could mean they mate for life!

This obsession over rocks sounds very familiar. Where have I heard about another species that offers a diamond to their potential mates hoping they say “Yes” to being mates for life?

Fact #24: Penguins slide on their bellies.

Penguins are perfectly adapted to swimming in the ocean. But they have not evolved to walk gracefully on land, which is one reason their walk is called a “waddle.”

To help get around while not at sea, many penguin species will slide on their bellies over the ice & snow. Not only does it use less energy than walking, but most of the time, it provides faster transportation.

This act is known as “tobogganing.”

Fact #25: Penguins use physics to launch themselves.

Penguins can propel themselves from the sea onto land at breakneck speed.

There is some fascinating science behind how this happens!

After completing a long dive, penguins will head to the surface before exiting the water. While treading, the penguins trap tiny bubbles of air inside their dense feathers.

As they approach the surface to exit the water, the penguins can release these microbubbles at the perfect time. When this happens, the air creates a lubricating coat that reduces friction which helps the penguin torpedo out of the water!

Fact #26: They don’t make traditional bird nests.

Most of the places they live in are devoid of much plant life.

So, penguins make do with what they have! Many species create nests for their eggs out of rocks, pebbles, & loose feathers.

Emperor & King Penguins don’t make a nest at all! Once the egg is laid, it’s transferred to the top of their feet & is covered by a featherless fold of skin that keeps the egg warm!

Cute Christmas Critters:




Weekly Chuckle:


Monday, December 16, 2024

Dec. 11/2024

 

26 Penguin Facts to Make You Waddle With Joy! [2024] Part 1
By Scott
https://birdwatchinghq.com/penguin-facts/

Fact #1: No one agrees on how many penguin species exist!
Determining the number of penguin species on the planet seems pretty straight forward, but nobody can seem to agree.

All I can tell you is that there are somewhere between 17-21 living species of penguin, depending on which scientific authority you subscribe too.

King, Emperor, Adélie, Chinstrap, Gentoo, Little, Australian Little, Magellanic, Humboldt, Galapagos, African, Yellow-eyed, Fiordland, Snares, Erect-crested, & Macaroni.

Now here is where the controversy arises:
Royal Penguin: Some people consider them a subspecies of the Macaroni penguin because these 2 sometimes interbreed in the wild.

White-flippered Penguin: Most scientists consider them a subspecies or color morph of the Little Penguin. There was some DNA analysis done that shows differences between the 2 penguins, but whether it’s enough to classify them as individual species is still up for debate.

Rockhopper Penguins: The Rockhoppers are just a mess. 3 closely related subspecies are either grouped as one or recognized as 3 unique species; Southern, Eastern, & Northern.

Regardless, I have this awesome penguin poster hanging in my house, which recognizes 17 unique species. I love that it shows where each one lives!

Fact #2: Penguins and Polar Bears are NOT Besties.

It’s NOT because Polar Bears eat penguins (although they probably would).

The truth is, they’ve never met!

Polar Bears ONLY live in the Northern Hemisphere. They make their homes in countries around the Arctic Circle such as Canada, the United States (Alaska), Russia, Greenland, & Norway.

However, penguins do NOT live in the Northern Hemisphere! All species of penguins live in the Southern Hemisphere!

(Okay, I lied a little bit. The Galapagos Penguin lives on the Galapagos Islands in Ecuador. Technically this is the Northern Hemisphere, but not by much!)

Polar Bears & penguins are a world apart from each other.

I know this fact may blow your mind.

And you may be sad to learn that the cute Coca-Cola commercials with Polar Bears & penguins meeting each other are outrageously inaccurate. To be honest, when this commercial aired initially, I was so disgusted that I permanently switched to Pepsi. 🙂

It’s incredible how many kid shows get this basic fact wrong & think Polar Bears & penguins live together!

Since humans are a curious bunch, penguins have been brought to many zoos & aquariums in the Northern Hemisphere so we can see & study them.  There are just no “wild” populations in the north.

Fact #3: Penguins like the beach!

Well, some of them do!

The Galapagos Penguin lives in tropical climates on an island near the equator! And the African Penguin lives on the warm coasts of South Africa.

It’s a myth that Penguins only live in the cold weather of the Antarctic.  You can find them in South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, & along the entire west coast of South America.

Fact #4: Penguins can swim REALLY fast.
Although they resemble little bowling pins, penguins have the perfect body for swimming!

Rather than wings to fly, penguins have paddle-like flippers with short little feathers. These adaptations help them fly through the water!

Furthermore, penguins have solid bones, rather than air-filled ones like birds that fly. These dense bones offset buoyancy to help them dive deeply underwater!

Even though they are awkward on land, once in the water, penguins are extremely fast! For example, the Gentoo Penguin can swim up to 22 mph! To put it into perspective, Michael Phelps can only swim around 5-6 mph!

Fact #5: Penguins are deadly, efficient hunters.

Trust me; you don’t want to be a fish that is being hunted by a penguin.

A recent study followed 11 Adélie Penguins for 14 hours.  Each of the penguins had a camera attached so the scientists could observe their behavior.

In more than 14 hours of filming, not once did a penguin fail to capture its prey!

No wonder they spend 75% of their lives in the water!

Fact #6: Penguins sneeze a lot.

There is one big downfall to spending 75% of your life in the water:

Saltwater!

Luckily, penguins have adapted well to handle it!

Penguins ingest a lot of saltwater while hunting! To avoid getting sick & dehydrated from the salt, penguins have a special gland behind their eye (supraorbital gland), which filters out the saltwater from their bloodstream.

Penguins will then excrete the salt either through their beaks or by sneezing!

Fact #7: Penguin eyes are amazing!

Because penguins are visual hunters & spend lots of time both in the water & on land, their eyes have adapted to see in both environments.

Like all birds, penguins have a translucent 3rd eyelid called a nictitating membrane. When swimming, this membrane covers their eyes, protecting them from injury while underwater. It’s sort of like having built-in swim goggles!

Penguins have also evolved strong eye muscles, which can change the shape of their eye lens to help have sharper vision underwater. In addition, they developed a flattened cornea to reflect less light.

Penguin eyes are no small evolutionary feat! Just think how poorly your eyes perform while swimming underwater. Without goggles, you wouldn’t see anything! But penguins can go smoothly from land to sea & have no problems seeing.

Fact #8: They are birds!

Yes, I know you probably already knew this fact.

However, many people think they are mammals or fish!

“Where are the feathers on these so-called birds? Why can’t they fly?” they might ask.  “Turtles lay eggs, have beaks, & can’t fly too.  Are they a turtle!?”

Nope. Not a turtle either.
Penguins are warm-blooded, have both beaks & feathers, & they lay eggs.  And their skeletal structure is definitely avian, too.  There is no doubt they are birds.

The reason their feathers look like fur is due to how densely packed they are. For example, Emperor Penguins have the highest feather density of any bird species, averaging 100 feathers per 6.5 square centimeters.

Also, they exude an oil that keeps them waterproof &, more importantly, traps air to insulate them from the cold temperatures.

Fact #9: They have “Catastrophic Molts”!

Just like other birds, they will molt, which means they lose their feathers to make way for new growth.
However, unlike other birds, they don’t gradually lose feathers throughout the year. Instead, penguins go through what is called a Catastrophic Molt!

Sounds intense, right!?

It kind of is! For 2 to 3 weeks, penguins will lose almost all their feathers at once. During this time, the penguin has to remain land-bound because they will no longer be waterproof.

Fact #10: They are not very committed to their mates.

Most species of penguins breed in large colonies that include thousands of birds! As you can imagine, it can get a little congested. For example, Chinstrap Penguins hold the record for the largest colony size at 2 MILLION birds.

Because of these massive colony sizes, most penguins don’t mate for life! Roughly half of all penguins swap mates every year!

Why?

When the penguins return to the breeding colony, there is a good chance they never find their mate! It’s just too crowded!

If they happen to meet up with their previous partner, then great! If the male is not there when the female arrives, she goes to her last nesting site & takes up with another male.

Fact #11: Emperor Penguins make me feel lazy.

Emperor Penguins have one of the most fascinating & rigorous breeding rituals in the entire animal kingdom! It is captured wonderfully in the wildly popular documentary called “March of the Penguins,” narrated by Morgan Freeman. (If you haven’t watched this movie, you need to!)

Every March in Antarctica, both male & female Emperor Penguins leave the ocean to march inland to their breeding grounds, which are between 30-75 miles away!

Once the penguins have mated & a female lays an egg, she transfers it to the male. Then she leaves & makes her way back to the ocean to feed herself for 2 months.

While the female is gone, the male is responsible for caring for & incubating the egg on top of his feet during the cold, stormy winter.

Some males die due to starvation during this challenging period!

The female returns after a few months to take her turn caring for the chick. Once she is back, the male makes his way back to the ocean to eat.

After a few weeks of feeding, the male returns. Then, both parents take turns feeding the chick regurgitated food & keeping their baby warm & alive until it’s large enough to take care of itself.

Emperor Penguins are the only animals to breed during the Antarctic winter, which features some of the worst weather conditions on earth.

Fact #12: Females kidnap other penguins’ chicks!

Female Emperor Penguins are known to kidnap chicks from each other if they lose their baby. It’s not uncommon for fights to break out as chick-less penguins try to steal from another penguin family.

Unfortunately for the baby chicks, if they are kidnapped, it isn’t a long-term solution.

The kidnapping typically only lasts several days to a week, & then usually, the chick is abandoned & left to die through starvation or cold.

Sorry, this section was incredibly sad. 🙁

Fact #13: Penguins weren’t impressive to early explorers.

One of the first documented sightings of a penguin came on a pretty famous voyage!

In 1520, Ferdinand Magellan was on his first circumnavigation of the globe!

While near Argentina, a member of his ship wrote about seeing a penguin.

However, at the time he described them as “strange geese!”

Cute Christmas Critters:



Weekly Chuckle: