Watch the World’s Smallest Penguins Take New York

[Omaha Steve]

A colony of Australian little penguins have come to live at the Bronx Zoo.

Video: http://www.takepart.com/video/2015/05/22/watch-worlds-smallest-penguins-take-new-york?cmpid=longtailshare

May 22, 2015 By Emily J. Gertz

Emily J. Gertz is TakePart's associate editor for environment and wildlife.

If you’ve ever thought the only thing that could be cuter than a baby penguin would be a baby penguin that never grows up, your wish has sort of come true. It turns out there’s a species of little penguins officially called...the little penguin.

At just over a foot tall and weighing only two to three pounds full grown, little penguins are the smallest penguins in the world. They’re also called fairy penguins, and you could go with “blue penguins” as well—a name that references the blue tone of the species’ feathers—and still be understood by the average penguin expert.

The nonprofit Wildlife Conservation Society has just put a breeding colony of the birds on exhibit at the Bronx Zoo. It’s the first time the diminutive species has been in residence in New York, according to WCS. “The little penguins are acclimating well to their new home and are quite a sight to see,” said Jim Breheny, general director of the WCS zoos and aquarium, in a statement.

FULL story at link.

[shenmue]

1. Pengies! Squeeeeee!

[Mnemosyne]

2. My all time favorite birds, big or small! nt

[shenmue]

3. So cute!

[Mnemosyne]

5. Beyond adorable for sure!

[Jim Lane]

4. If you're ever near Melbourne, be sure to see them in their natural habitat

You can take a tour bus from Melbourne to Phillip Island Nature Park and watch the "penguin parade". The little penguins are out at sea all day. At dusk they come ashore and go to their burrows. The visitor center sells a wonderful DVD about them.