Ukrainian polar researchers recorded a rare guest: an emperor penguin near Vernadsky

Ukrainian polar researchers at the 'Akademik Vernadsky' research station, located on Galindez Island, unexpectedly encountered an emperor penguin. It is known that birds of this species usually do not occur in this area; they prefer colder parts of Antarctica. Thus, discovering a penguin just a few kilometers from the station, the biologists from the 30th expedition were pleasantly surprised.

Emperor penguins are the largest representatives of their kind, reaching a height of up to 120 centimeters and weighing 50 kilograms. They are also known for their ability to dive to depths of up to 500 meters in search of food and breed only in the Antarctic winter, creating colonies deep within the continent. Additionally, unlike other penguin species, they do not build nests from stones but incubate their eggs by holding them on their feet.

This is not the first interesting observation at the Antarctic station: previously, polar researchers were fortunate enough to see a leopard seal attempting to feast on a crabeater seal, leading to fascinating observations of nature in its diversity.