BBC crew captures penguin thief
BBC Nature News has published footage due to be aired on the BBC’s forthcoming documentary, “Frozen Planet”. In it, a male penguin is involved in an all too human vice, that of stealing. The birds build their nests on beds of stones to protect the eggs from cold and melt water and hence those with the most substantial nests are more likely to secure mates. In the footage, one penguin repeatedly steals stones from its neighbor’s nest, while the other bird goes out to gather more stones, unaware of the theft.
The colony, on Ross Island, Antarctica consists of 250,000 males attempting to build nests and breed, as well as groups of non-breeding adolescent birds, creating a great deal of tension. As the penguins are only 18” (46cm) tall, the cameraman had to crawl around to get eye-level shots. The new series is due to air in the UK on 26 October.
