If the thought of seeing a real life march of the penguins gives you happy feet, then you鈥檙e in luck. There are actually a number of places you can witness the exultant event, and they鈥檙e not all in Antarctica.
Although the earth鈥檚 icy, southernmost continent does contain a number of prime spots for eyeing these flippered flyers, there are a host of other penguin-viewing places, too. And some spots don鈥檛 even require snow boots.
Simon鈥檚 Town, South Africa
One such locale is the Boulders Penguin Colony, located south of Cape Town in Simon鈥檚 Town. Part of the , the colony is comprised of several beaches and boardwalks. Here, you鈥檒l find African Penguins, now an endangered species, waddling around and taking a dip in the cove. By the way, humans are free to swim in designated areas in the cove as well, but the national park service does ask that visitors refrain from touching the penguins.聽
Oamaru, New Zealand
The in Oamaru, a coastal city in southwestern New Zealand, boasts the world鈥檚 smallest penguins: the Blue Penguin. As聽full-grown adults, these aquatic birds only reach about 12 inches tall and will weigh just over two pounds. Their blue backs, in addition to their compact size, also make them some of the world鈥檚 most adorable penguins.
Isla Magdalena, Chile
Chile鈥檚 Isla Magdalena plays host to an enormous population of Magellanic Penguins. The island, which is located in the heart of the Strait of Magellan, is estimated to house more than 60,000 pairs聽of the black and white creatures. And as you might鈥檝e guessed, these aquatic birds were named after the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan, who first locked eyes on the penguins in 1520. You can get a good look at them too by booking an excursion with or another tour company.
Keep in Mind
More than half of existing penguin species are on the . Unfortunately, these tuxedoed cuties face a host of trials that range from climate variation to pollution to an overharvesting of their food sources. Dr. P. Dee Boersma, an expert in penguin conservation and an endowed chair at the University of Washington, recommends that tourists take ownership of the penguin plight.聽
鈥淭ourists can, through their actions, foster penguin conservation,鈥 Boersma says.
One way to do this is to support a conservation organization such as the , the ,聽or the , which Boersma helms at the University of Washington.