Watch This Baby Penguin Run to Its Caregiver

A penguin’s cute exterior is equally matched to its friendly disposition. As a species, penguins are rarely aggressive and lean more curious. Around humans, a penguin can be observant, unbothered, and sometimes playful. In rare cases, they can even bond with caretakers like this one.

Adélie Penguins of Antarctica

The penguin in this video is an Adélie penguin native to Antarctica. This species is only found on that continent, where it is widespread alongside the emperor penguin. The two species differ in their personalities: Adélie penguins are by far the more friendly of the two. These penguins are so confident that they’re often called the “Little People of the Antarctic,” their curiosity usually winning out over logic.

Adélie penguins have been known to stroll straight up to researchers. This act is not in defiance but more due to their lack of natural land predators. This has made them the most well-researched penguin species to date. Observation has shown these penguins are skilled swimmers and can dive nearly 600 feet. As a foraging predator, this distance is usually unnecessary since they catch fish and krill close to the surface. These tuxedo-colored penguins are just under 30 inches, which would make them easy prey had they any land enemies. However, the same is not true of the ocean, where leopard seals and killer whales hunt them. Onlookers can often watch penguins gather at the water’s edge until one jumps or is pushed in. The rest of the group will only join once the penguin swims safely.

Adélie penguins were considered near endangered until 2016, but their population has since increased. Today, they’re considered the least threatened alongside gentoo penguins, which can survive in warmer climates. Adélie penguins are adaptive, but their curiosity often leads to recklessness. This is seen in the playful behavior between penguins and humans, giving them some odd quirks.

Adélie Penguins Are Excitable

One of the coolest things about Adélie penguins is their range of emotion. Each penguin has a unique personality and posture to communicate with one another. Posturing includes defensive moves, saluting, and courtship displays. An Adélie penguin may squawk in conversation with a neighbor, steal pebbles from another’s nest, or push their beaks out to intimidate others. Researchers have even seen penguins playfully chasing chicks around their nests. Practical jokes are not above Adélie penguins, and they’ve also been known to push others from icy ledges.

This behavior extends beyond the nest, as seen in the video above. Adélie penguins often cause a commotion when humans make landfall, their curiosity getting the better of them. A penguin may squawk to the crowd about the incoming arrival or excitedly greet them. As they rush to meet strangers, they often flap their wings in a flurry of excitement. Adélie penguins easily form bonds within their species but can become familiar with the humans who visit.

Shake It Off

Adélie penguins shake their heads for several reasons. The primary purpose is to remove excess salt, which can accumulate when they’re swimming. Glands above their eyes filter the excess salt expelled through their beaks, keeping the penguins from getting dehydrated and keeping their beaks clean. This adorable shake is common among penguins, giving them a chronic case of the sniffles. However, this head shake is just as social as it is practical.

Adélie penguins are highly expressive in courtship displays. While the one in this video is not courting its caretaker, it is expressing emotion. Penguins shake their heads at the start of a new courtship as a symbol of trust and devotion. As they get to know one another, head shaking continues to be a sign of trust and devotion. When a penguin does this to a human, it can signify general interest or trust.

A Cooing Baby Chick

Baby Adélie chicks like this one often make noises if they need something. These chirps or squawks can mean hunger, identification, or recognition. A chick will peep at its parents to strengthen bonds, not unlike the chick in this video. A human caretaker might not be a penguin, but chicks can form early bonds with those who show them affection. Adélie penguins are friends to those who study them, and humans who visit the Arctic frequently make an impression.

Adélie chicks are cared for in the wild until they’re about three weeks old. After that, they band together with other chicks in groups called crèches. It’s natural for chicks in captivity to form bonds with caretakers if there’s no créch for them to join. Instead, they’re raised in a protective nursery and often become familiar with wildlife experts like this.