Monday, 22 December 2008

Punta Tombo - lots of peguins!


Up close and personal with the penguins


Loads of the little black and white chaps

Ahhhhh, these are 20 day old chicks

Things got a bit too much for this one, all that lying down and eating is exhusting


The colony is the largest in South America, in fact it is the largest Magellan Penguin colony outside of Antarctica, and half a million of these birds come to Punta Tumbo each year to breed and raise their chicks. It was fascinating to get so close to the penguins. We saw loads of them fighting, those beaks can cause a lot of damage! Our guide was pecked on the leg and she told us she had a ´hole´ in her leg from the attack! Glad they didnt come to near me!
Apparently the penguins have been coming to Punta Tumbo for ages, they dont taste good so they were never hunted for their meat and have therefore been let alone over the years. Apparently the Japanese want to buy them to turn them into golfing gloves - their coat gives a great grip - but thankfully they are not for sale!


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