adminThe Galapagos Penguin isn’t like any other penguin on Earth. It is actually the only penguin species to live to the north of the equator in the wild. Every other species of penguin lives south of the equator because of the cooler temperatures. The Galapagos Penguin relies on the coldness of the Humbolt Current to keep itself cool in the waters and the swiftness and coolness of the Cromwell Current to bring up its food closer to the surface. Without either of those two currents the Galapagos Penguins could not exist.
This species of penguin is the smallest of all of them and only weigh about five pounds. The male is in the bigger part of the five pounds with the females obviously smaller. They only measure around 20 inches tall. They are all black in color with their bellies being white. However, because of their small stature, they are more likely to be prey for bigger animals. In the water, they can be preyed upon by sharks, sea lions and seals. While on land, they must be careful of other animals, such as snakes, crabs, hawks and owls. Not only do they suffer from the hands of other animals, they suffer from human poaching and also lack of food being brought up through the currents.
These small penguins start building their nests between May and January and they build them close to the shore’s edge, but out of reach of other marine animals. Since these penguins mate for life, the male stays with the female while the incubation period of the eggs takes place, which typically lasts thirty-eight to forty days, with only one to two eggs laid. After the chicks are born, the parents take turns going and getting food and bringing it back to the nest for their little ones. If there isn’t enough food for the chicks and the parents, often times the parents will abandon the nest for their own safety and nutrition.
There are currently nearly fifteen hundred Galapagos Penguins which puts them in the endangered status. Scientists are studying these rare small penguins and are helping them become more populated over time so they don’t become extinct.
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