Penguins may look cute and cuddly but you wouldn’t want to get too close to one. They bite and they bite hard.
Which is probably why we’re so fascinated by those select penguin who choose not to bite humans.
There is a penguin, named Sandy, in a zoo in German that has developed quite an interesting relationship with a zoo keeper. As shown below, she has more or less adopted him.
And there is Oscar:
He lives at the Staffordshire Zoo and he has become a crowd favorite because he too has taken a liking to people.
You could argue that captive penguins are naturally acclimated to humans — and, frankly, have no choice but to suffer them.
Which is why this next penguin is so very interesting.
His name is Turbo. He is a member of a Magellanic penguin colony in Punta Tombo, Argentina.
He is not a caged penguin — so he is free to completely ignore humans altogether. And yet he has spent much of his life hanging out with them. Barging into their rooms. Tagging along on their hikes.
He inspired my short story.
He also now has own Facebook page. And more than 200 friends!
Which means that we can now follow him.