Submitted by Anonymous on Sun, 12/21/2008 - 16:05
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Oden Antarctic Expedition 08

Hi Jeff,

I have been following your journal with my students and they are really enjoying your adventures.

The peguin videos are so heart warming.  If I was there I would have a hard time resisting picking one of them up. What would happen if you did try to pick one up?

Have a Merry Christmas!!!! 

Wendy

 

Sun, 12/28/2008 - 11:33

Jeff Peneston

Wendy,
First, I’m sorry for the delay in my response.  I just learned that I had lost a few of my emails.   
Anyway, there are several layers of concerns that come to my mind when I imagine trying to pick up a penguin.  The first problem is that it would violate the rules of the US Antarctic Program and the Antarctic Treaty.  That would be very bad.  The second problem is that when I have had penguins approach me on the ice, it was magical.  The magic stems from the fact that the penguins have no experience with humans or any other predator on the ice, and their trusting and curious behavior is the product of that history.  I can’t imagine being the human that taught a penguin to fear people.  There is also another fundamental problem with picking up a penguin and that is that I don’t think the penguin would like it.  Not only can they bite, but they almost certainly can move over the snow faster than awkwardly dressed, bipedal apes who break through the snow crust with every third lumbering step.  I really don’t think I could catch the penguins that I have seen.
I am very happy to just watch the penguins.
 Have fun,
Jeff

Mon, 12/29/2008 - 07:34

Wendy

Jeff,
Thanks for your comment. I guess it was a stupid question but it was something that my students were curious about. When they watched the first penguin video they had that kid reaction. " Oh I want one they're so cute" etc.
I should have remembered, from my animal behavior classes at Plattsburgh, about learned fear of humans.
Stay safe have fun,
Wendy