Yesterday one of our clients was conducting research on Arctic storms and how they effect global weather patterns when he came across some really amazing facts regarding Emperor Penguins. I thought this was amazing trivia. I share it with you in the hopes you can share it with your bar customers. If you enjoyed these nine interesting facts please let me know?
First - Emperor Penguins are the largest of the 17 known species of penguins; they can stand 45 in. tall.
Second - Emperor Penguins can dive deeper than any other bird on earth, as deep 1,850 ft.
Third - Emperor Penguins can stay under water for more than 20 minutes.
Fourth - Emperor Penguins are the only animals to inhabit the open ice of Antarctica during the winter.
Fifth - Because of their aerodynamic bodies and strong flippers, Emperor Penguins can swim at speeds of 7.5 mph.
Sixth - Due to the harsh winds and blizzard conditions in Antarctica, Emperor Penguins frequently huddle together in large groups to keep warm.
Seventh - Less than a third of all juvenile penguins make it to their first birthday. Most are eaten by seabirds, leopard seals and killer whales.
Eighth - Mature Emperor Penguins live 15-20 years.
Ninth - And most amazing, for years scientists have been baffled because no one has ever found a dead Emperor Penguin on the surface of Antarctica. Many are eaten at sea, but what happens to all those who die from diseases, old age and natural causes on land? A Dutch research team solved this mystery in 2009 after collecting videotapes of special rituals.
It appears that whenever an Emperor Penguin dies on land, hundreds of penguins from the rook, including both adults and juveniles, gather around the body to pay their last respects. After several minutes of silence, all the females and children return to the rook and only the adult males stay. Then using their bills and strong flippers, they carve out a large hole in the ice’s surface. When the hole is twice the size of the deceased penguin, two of the oldest penguins will push the dead penguin’s body into the hole. Once in the hole, the entire group of males takes turns kicking ice and snow over the deceased body. When the body is completely covered, all the males sing out in unison, “FREEZE A JOLLY GOOD FELLOW - FREEZE A JOLLY GOOD FELLOW.”
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