When you think of penguins, do thousands of marching birds, eggs nestled securely on top of their feet, come to mind? While it is true that some of these incredible birds can only be found in places where humans can barely survive, much less visit with ease, there are some penguin species which inhabit warmer areas, plus there are some places in the Antarctic and Patagonia where you can dive with those that thrive in cold water environments. There are about twenty distinct penguin species – here are some of those you are most likely to encounter.
Galapagos Penguin
There are plenty of reasons to visit the Galapagos Islands, including hammerhead sharks, diving salt water iguanas, manta rays, and more – in all, there are approximately 9,000 species that call the islands and the waters that surround them home. One of these is the Galapagos Penguin. The only penguin found north of the Equator, this little penguin is about sixteen inches tall and weighs just over five pounds at adulthood. Most of them live around Fernandina and Isabela; smaller concentrations can be found on other islands.
African Penguins
Like Galapagos Penguins, African Penguins are a type of banded penguin. Taller, at between 26 and 28 inches, and weighing up to eleven pounds, these penguins have a spotted pattern on their chests which is unique to the individual, much as fingerprints are unique to humans. Found in colonies on 24 islands on the southwestern coast of Africa, near Port Elizabeth, they can also be seen near Cape Town and at Boulders Beach near Simon’s Town, on the mainland.
Firodland Crested Penguin
Also known as the Tawaki, this beautiful New Zealand native breeds along the Fiordland coast and can also be found on Stewart Island. With characteristic yellow tufts that extend like eyebrows from the eyes toward the back of the head, this species averages about 8 pounds and grows to be about 24 inches tall.
Mabellanic Penguin
This South American Penguin is one of the most abundant penguin species – in fact; it’s a Least Concern animal on IUCN’s red list. Native to coastal Chile and Argentina, as well as to the Falkland Islands, and sometimes encountered as far north as Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, these penguins can grow to be as tall as thirty inches, and can weigh in at as much as fourteen pounds. Black and white, and capable of living for as long as thirty years in captivity and 25 years in the wild, these penguins travel in large flocks.
Encountering penguins in the wild is always extremely exciting, particularly as they are capable of executing incredible acrobatic maneuvers beneath the surface, trailing bubbles behind them. Be sure to keep your distance if you have the good fortune to enjoy a penguin encounter – allowing the birds to size you up and reassure themselves that you are no threat can enhance the overall experience and prevent them from associating divers with psychologically traumatic experiences. Whether you travel to Antarctica, or if you prefer to visit penguins in warmer areas, this is one encounter you’re certain to remember for a lifetime.