Anne Elliott's photos with the keyword: status: Near Threatened

A couple of Gentoo Penguins seen indoors at the Penguin Plunge at the Calgary Zoo, on 4 October 2012. The Zoo has four species of Penguin in their Penguin Plunge exhibit - Gentoo (23), King (8), Humboldt (10) and Rockhopper (5). They are part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums penguin species survival plan. The 46 penguins came from zoos in Quebec, Texas, New York and Washington states and Scotland. There are 8 King Penguins, 23 Gentoo Penguins, 10 Humboldt Penguins and 5 Rockhopper Penguins. The IUCN Red List states: King Penguins - Least Concern Humboldt Penguins - Vulnerable Gentoo Penguins - Near Threatened Rockhopper Penguins - Vulnerable Current Impacts on the Gentoo population include climate variation, competition with fisheries, human disturbance, pollution. Gentoos can hold their breath underwater for up to seven minutes. They usually search for food within 14 kilometres of home, but may travel up to twice that distance in a day. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gentoo_Penguin Does anyone else know the PINGU series of animated short videos? One of my favourite TV shows (though I don't know if it is on at the moment). This is a link to just one of the many, many episodes. youtu.be/2tkYQHGm_uw

These wonderful feet belong to a Gentoo Penguin, ha. Taken at the Calgary Zoo on March 15th. "When it's really cold, Penguins rock backwards on their heels, holding their toes up. How do they stop themselves from falling over backwards? They support themselves by their stiff tail feathers that have no blood flow and so lose no heat. So in the coldest conditions, penguins sit there supported on a tripod of two feet (heels) with reduced blood flow and a stiff tail through which they lose no heat at all." The average life span in the wild is 15 to 20 years. www.coolantarctica.com/Antarctica%20fact%20file/science/c... I am always amazed by this short video, of a Gentoo Penguin that is being chased by a Killer Whale - and what it does to escape! youtu.be/SJaMtBKnN-I