PHOTOS: Cutest Penguin Pictures And Fun Facts To Celebrate World Penguin Day

Penguins are arguably the cutest bird on the planet, which is probably why they have a day to celebrate them. For those who don’t know, Tuesday is World Penguin Day. It was started to promote the conservation and health of these creatures.

While penguins don’t live in the North Pole, all 12 species live in the Southern Hemisphere. In fact, there are 12 million flightless birds in Antarctica alone, according to the “State of Antarctic Penguin” report was researched Ron Naveen.

READ: Poop Proves These Antarctic Penguins Survived A Lot Of Volcanic Eruptions

Naveen has studied famous tuxedo birds for more than two decades. “In one generation, I have personally witnessed the precipitous decline of once abundant Adélie and chinstrap penguin populations,” Naveen told USA Today Tuesday. “These iconic birds are literally canaries in the coal mine.

Naveen, who was in Antarctica when he gave his interview, added: “This is affirmation that this place down here is changing in a real radical way.”

In short, Naveen said it was important count penguins so researchers can track the ramifications of climate change. “We need to have these baselines in place so the whole science community out there has data to assess how the climate is warming,” he said.

Listed below are some quick fun facts about penguins, courtesy of Mental Floss, Pink News and Science Kidz:

1. Since as early as 1911, penguins were observed engaging in homosexual behavior. Last year, a gay penguin couple celebrated 10 years together!
2. At 4-feet-tall, Emperor Penguins are the tallest species
3. If her baby chick dies, an Emperor penguin mother will likely “kidnap” another chick
4. Gentoo Penguins are the fastest, swimming at speeds of 22 miles per hour (mph)
5. Penguins’ tuxedo coloring helps them camouflage while swimming in the water
6. The waddling birds can drink sea water
7. Emperor penguins can hold their breath for up to 20 minutes
8. Emperor penguins sometimes huddle together to keep warm during frigid Antarctica temperatures
9. Many penguins mate with the same member of the opposite sex
10. While many species of penguins create nests from feathers and pebbles, Emperor penguins use their top of their feet to keep an egg warm
11. Male and female penguin parents care for their offspring for several months

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