Latest news with #Borboroglu
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
'Extremely Rare' Hybrid 'Rockaroni' Penguins Caught on Camera Evolving 'Before Our Eyes' (Exclusive)
National Geographic's Secrets of the Penguins filmed rare "rockaroni" chicks for the docuseries The baby penguins are hybrids created by a rockhopper mom and a macaroni penguin dad Penguin researchers Pablo "Popi" Borboroglu closely studied the "rockaroni" chicks and thinks the baby animals could have "evolutionary advantages" moving forward Pablo "Popi" Borboroglu knew from an early age he was meant to be among the penguins. "When I was a small boy, my grandmother used to tell me wonderful stories about her visits to see penguins along the wild Patagonian coast of Argentina, where I live and work today. Her stories sparked my early connection to nature," Borboroglu, a penguin researcher and conservationist with a Ph.D. in marine biology, tells PEOPLE. This initial curiosity led Borboroglu to check out a penguin colony when he got a bit older. "During my first visit to a penguin colony, I found myself surrounded by half a million penguins — and in that moment, I knew. I felt with complete clarity that my life's mission was to study and protect these incredible animals," the founder and president of the Global Penguin Society adds. Borboroglu is now decades into his penguin research career, which is spotlighted in the new National Geographic docuseries Secrets of the Penguins. In the show, Borboroglu introduces viewers to a colony of southern rockhopper penguins living in Argentina. Among the birds are two innovative penguins who managed to do something scientists have recorded just a few times before. Secrets of the Penguins captured on film a mixed-species penguin couple consisting of a female rockhopper and a male macaroni penguin. Stranger yet, the pair successfully mated and hatched the resulting eggs, welcoming several "rockaroni" hybrid chicks into the world. "When two different species breed, the chances of the eggs hatching and chicks surviving are extremely low, so this finding is truly," Borboroglu says of the it-couple and their chicks featured in the Secrets of the Penguins final episode. Observing the "rockaroni" family was a first for the penguin researcher and National Geographic Explorer. Related: Cornered Mother Penguin Confronts Hungry Sea Lion '70 Times Her Size' in First of Its Kind Footage (Exclusive) "It was absolutely fascinating. Observing a mixed-species pair successfully raising hybrid chicks in the wild was surprising and thought-provoking. Seeing these hybrids thrive offers an incredible opportunity to reflect on the adaptability of penguins and the complexity of their behavior," Borboroglu adds. Secrets of the Penguins posits that the rockhopper mom and macaroni dad found love and had a family because they were "driven by environmental pressures that disrupt typical breeding patterns." "As shown in Secrets of the Penguins and supported by research, one key factor may be limited mate availability. In colonies where one species is scarce, individuals may form mixed-species pairs out of necessity," Borboroglu says. "Another intriguing possibility is that the more pronounced physical features of macaroni penguins — such as their larger body size, brighter crests, and louder vocalizations — might be interpreted by rockhoppers as signals of stronger body condition or higher fitness." Borboroglu suggests we are "witnessing evolution before our eyes." If environmental factors force enough rockhoppers and macaroni penguins together, then this "hybridization might act as a pathway to speciation." Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. "It was a vivid reminder that nature is constantly trying new experiments — and sometimes, those experiments succeed in the most unexpected ways," he says. Of course, a new species emerging from "rockaroni" unions is far down the line and will be challenged by the unique obstacles "rockaroni" chicks face. "Hybridization between macaroni and rockhopper penguins is extremely rare because of their differing breeding behaviors and habitats. When it does occur, the physical differences between the species pose added difficulties — hybrid chicks are larger and need more food, which puts extra strain on the smaller rockhopper parent during chick-rearing," he explains. But it's not all rough road for "rockaroni" families. The penguin researcher notes that the chicks could have "evolutionary advantages" in the future. "The survival and breeding success of 'rockaroni' penguins suggest an exceptional level of adaptability. Hybridization may be nature's response to environmental pressures, creating new genetic combinations that help wildlife cope with shifting conditions." Borboroglu hopes that meeting the penguin family during Secrets of the Penguins inspires animal lovers to protect the birds. According to the expert, half of the world's 18 penguin species are listed as threatened or worse on the IUCN Red List. All penguins face threats created by climate change, overfishing, pollution, and habitat degradation. "I hope people come away with a deeper sense of empathy and admiration for penguins and all marine species. I want them to see how extraordinary these animals are and how fragile their lives can be. Being a penguin in today's world is incredibly difficult. They are tough, resilient, determined, and brave — but even so, they can't face the mounting challenges alone," Borboroglu shares. Related: Wildlife Expert Shares the 'Ridiculous' Animal Encounter He Caught on Film for the First Time (Exclusive) The conservationist is also personally dedicated to penguins since the birds have added so much to his life. "Thanks to penguins, I met my wife on a remote island in Patagonia, and they've been part of our journey ever since. They also allowed me to show my sons that it's possible to follow your dreams — and fulfill your life's mission — even against all odds," he says. Borboroglu adds, "During my 36 years of working with penguins, I've always shared the same message: if these birds go to such incredible lengths to survive and raise their chicks successfully — overcoming immense challenges and threats every day — then how can we not do something, even a small act, to help lighten their load?" Animal lovers can learn more about penguins and how to help them by visiting the Global Penguin Society's website and tuning into National Geographic's Secrets of the Penguins, now available to stream on Hulu and Disney+. Read the original article on People
National Geographic
17-04-2025
- Science
- National Geographic
What the ‘trash heap' penguins of Argentina are teaching us about survival
For more than 60 million years, penguins of all kinds—including the opportunistic Magellanic penguin—have been driven by an evolutionary urge to reach beyond their boundaries. Today, many are surfacing in the most unlikely places. DIVING DEEP Chinstrap and gentoo penguins, shown here near Danco Island in Antarctica, regularly plunge to depths of over 100 feet on foraging runs. PHOTOGRAPH BY DAVID DOUBILET, National Geographic Image Collection When Pablo 'Popi' Borboroglu first visited a remote stretch of shoreline along the eastern coast of Patagonia, in 2008, the National Geographic Explorer was surprised to find penguins making a home there. The Argentine biologist was responding to a call from a nearby rancher who had seen several of the flightless birds on his property. When he arrived, Borboroglu found trash, broken glass, abandoned cars, and burned-out campfires on the ground. 'The place was a disaster,' he recalls. 'It was full of garbage.' Amid the squalor, however, under bushes and in small, cavelike burrows, he discovered something astonishing: 12 Magellanic penguins living among the debris. Each seabird was about one and a half feet tall, with a distinctive white band encircling its eyes and neck. While Magellanic penguins are known to breed in and around South America on rocky, sandy beaches before migrating each winter to the open ocean as far north as Brazil and Peru, the nearest established colony was located more than 80 miles south. Yet these intrepid travelers had arrived and coupled up, a sign that they were breeding on a beach teeming with hazards. The brown down feathers of king penguin chicks, seen here at Good Hope Bay on Marion Island, in the southern Indian Ocean, aren't waterproof, but the added insulation helps protect the birds from the cold until they molt around 10 months, when their sleek black and white feathers come in. PHOTOGRAPH BY THOMAS PESCHAK, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC IMAGE COLLECTION Borboroglu worked quickly, assessing the condition of the colony and freeing one bird that was entangled in plastic, and began the longer process of painstakingly cleaning and securing the area. The emerging colony not only survived but raised chicks, returning the next spring. Scientists have various theories as to why a so-called founder group like this ventures beyond familiar nesting grounds. But for Borboroglu, who went on to create the Global Penguin Society, an international conservation group, the new colony exemplifies the adaptability and resilience of all 18 penguin species, which inhabit some of nature's harshest environments, even as they continue to face new challenges in our changing world. 'They are so brave and determined,' he says of penguins as a whole. 'They're amazing.' A Galápagos penguin swims alongside a green sea turtle and a marine iguana in the cool, clear water near Fernandina Island. PHOTOGRAPH BY TUI DE ROY, NATURE PICTURE LIBRARY Penguins are indeed amazing creatures. Their comical waddle, tuxedo-like appearance, and endearing parental instincts make them quintessential conservation icons. But these same characteristics also point to some of the ways they've evolved to confront extreme conditions with remarkable adaptability and grit. The first penguins appeared roughly 60 million years ago on what is now New Zealand. Some scientists believe the absence of natural predators allowed the birds to evolve away from flight and toward more agility in the ocean. Over time, they developed ample stores of fat and a dense, impermeable layer of feathers to withstand the cold; stunted wings serving as flippers to propel them underwater with stunning speed and efficiency; and distinctive black-and-white feather patterns to confuse predators. Early penguins rode the currents across oceans, adapting to the new places where they landed. Emperor and Adélie penguins, for instance, settled in the unforgiving climate of Antarctica, and they have a thicker layer of body fat, scalelike feathers, and clawlike feet especially suited to gain traction on the ice. Galápagos penguins ended up on a chain of islands off the coast of Ecuador, becoming the only species found at the Equator. They now have smaller frames and thinner layers of plumage, which serve them well in the warmer climate. Historically, Magellanic penguins lived on islands off the coast of South America, but after sheep ranchers eradicated mainland predators such as pumas and foxes, the birds established colonies there too. 'Penguins vote with their feet,' says National Geographic Explorer Dee Boersma, a renowned penguin expert at the University of Washington. 'They go where the food is.' But no matter how far they roam, many of the animals now face the same issues. About half the world's penguins are threatened with extinction, and last year the African penguin became the first to be classified as critically endangered. Today the threats come from sea and land alike. In the ocean, penguins must run a gauntlet of oil spills, algal blooms, fishing nets, and plastic pollution while warming waters and overfishing deplete their prey. On shore, where penguins mate and raise their chicks, they encounter hazards ranging from declining Antarctic sea ice to coastal development and introduced or resurgent predators. Over the past century, as penguin numbers faltered, the global conservation community and individual nations moved to safeguard the birds, banning egg harvesting and creating protected areas, allowing embattled populations a chance at continued survival. In the years since, conservationists like Borboroglu and Boersma have lobbied to create more protected areas for nesting and regulate shipping routes to reduce penguins' potential exposure to oil spills. From scuba diving to set-jetting (How a penguin "massacre" led to historic new protections in Argentina.) Royal penguins, named for yellow plumes resembling crowns, are native to the Southern Ocean's Macquarie Island, where they live in large colonies, boosting their chances of finding a mate. Groupings have upwards of 500,000 breeding pairs. PHOTOGRAPH BY DOUG GIMESY, NATURE PICTURE LIBRARY One startling finding among scientists is that penguins are no longer evolving as fast, limiting their ability to keep pace with the world around them. A recent study showed that penguins now have the slowest evolutionary rates of all birds. Still, some appear adept at leveraging their best traits and behaviors to continue pressing into new territory. Researchers have discovered that emperor penguin colonies relocate when sea ice in one area is no longer reliable, and satellite imagery recently revealed previously unknown colonies in Antarctica. Meanwhile, king penguins, smaller cousins to the emperors, are in decline in some of their habitat but rebounding in other places, after decades of being harvested for oil. And gentoos, closely related to Adélies, are following available food as the Southern Ocean warms and sea ice clears, allowing them to more easily hunt and nest in new areas of the Antarctic Peninsula. 'We're seeing new colonies established further and further south,' says Gemma Clucas, a researcher with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. The handful of Magellanic penguins that once popped up on the trash-strewn beach in Patagonia appear to have inspired others to settle in the colony. As Borboroglu worked with landowners and the local government to create a 35,000-acre wildlife refuge, more and more penguins arrived each year. Over 8,000 penguins now nest here. 'Its growth has been remarkable,' he says. 'It shows that nature can thrive if given a chance.' See more on Popi Borboroglu and his conservation work in National Geographic's upcoming series "Secrets of the Penguins", streaming April 21 on Disney+ and Hulu. A version of this story appears in the May 2025 issue of National Geographic magazine. Hannah Nordhaus, a Boulder-based National Geographic Explorer, has written for outlets such as Scientific American and Smithsonian. In last month's magazine she wrote about imperiled sturgeons. The nonprofit National Geographic Society, committed to illuminating and protecting the wonder of our world, funded Explorer Pablo Borborgolu's work. Learn more about the Society's support of Explorers.
National Geographic
04-04-2025
- Science
- National Geographic
Pablo 'Popi' Garcia Borboroglu has dedicated his life to protecting penguins around the world
The Argentinian marine biologist and conservationist has spent the past 36 years championing the world's penguins and their habitats. The penguins in turn fuel his passion anew each day. Photograph by Silvestre Sere/Global Penguin Society The first time National Geographic Explorer Pablo 'Popi' Garcia Borboroglu set foot in a penguin colony, he felt the world fall into place. Swept up in the overwhelming energy of half a million black-and-white, flightless seabirds surrounding him on the Patagonian coastline, Borboroglu experienced his own eureka moment. 'I felt that they were so vulnerable and that I needed to help them. It's not something that I can easily describe, but I felt like I needed to dedicate my life to them.' He was only 19 years old during that life-changing visit, but Borboroglu had actually been hearing about penguins for almost as long as he could remember. Growing up in Argentine Patagonia, he was enraptured by his grandmother's stories of traveling by horse and wagon to visit penguin colonies during the 1920s and 30s. 'She was participating in ecotourism a hundred years ago!' he marvels. These stories nurtured a budding appreciation for the birds that would later blossom into full-blown career ambitions when the window of opportunity came. In his early 20s, after putting his original plans to become an ambassador on hold, Borboroglu was back in Patagonia working as a tour guide. 'During those years in the province I live in, 40,000 penguins died annually due to oil spills,' he recalls. 'I would come to the beach and see penguins dying or dead, covered by oil.' A young Pablo 'Popi' Garcia Borboroglu releasing a rehabilitated Southern Rockhopper penguin after an oil spill affecting 17,000 penguins in Patagonia in 1991. Photograph courtesy Pablo Garcia Borboroglu Heart stirred by the aftermath, he set up a rehabilitation center to nurse affected penguins back to health and soon came to a realization: 'I couldn't dedicate my life to washing penguins. I need to be more useful to them.' Borboroglu returned to university, focusing this time on a doctorate degree in marine biology with a specialization in seabirds, particularly penguins. He hasn't looked back since. In a career spanning over three decades and counting, Borboroglu cofounded the International Union for the Conservation of Nature's (IUCN) Penguin Specialist Group and conducts research at the National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET) of Argentina. He heads up the Global Penguin Society , an international organization advancing the conservation of all penguin species and their ecosystems through scientific research, protection of penguin habitats and education. Through their continual efforts, the Global Penguin Society has been able to protect a cumulative 32 million acres of penguin habitat and 2.5 million penguins worldwide. National Geographic Society Recognized numerous times for his impact in penguin conservation, Borboroglu received the Whitley Gold Award and Rolex Award for Enterprise in 2018, and the Indianapolis Prize in 2023. This year, the National Geographic Society has named Borboroglu a Rolex National Geographic Explorer of the Year recipient alongside fellow Explorer Bertie Gregory for their joint contributions to wildlife conservation. 'Every nest, a different story' Borboroglu firmly believes there's still more to be done, and that urges him into the field day in and day out with various Global Penguin Society project teams. 'We have actions in different countries going at the same time. Depending on the time of year, I'll go to New Zealand, to Chile, to Argentina to help out the teams that are operating there.' At the time of this writing, it's summer in the Southern Hemisphere — breeding season for almost all penguins. Borboroglu is currently working at Magellanic penguin colonies near his home in Patagonia. 'It's a big moment for them right now,' he says. After three months of staying in their nests and being fed by their parents, the chicks have grown large enough to venture into the ocean for the first time. For the Global Penguin Society, breeding season means an abundance of data to collect. They conduct censuses on colonies to estimate population size over time, an indicator of colony success. Marking hundreds of nests at the beginning of summer, they follow each egg and chick to quantify breeding performance. An aerial view of the Natural Reserve 'San Lorenzo' in Península Valdés, where a colony of around 400,000 Magellanic penguins live, the biggest in the world. Photograph by Luján Agusti Borboroglu with penguins in their nest at the Natural Reserve 'El Pedral' in Punta Ninfas, home to a colony of around 8,000 Magellanic penguins. Photograph by Luján Agusti 'Every nest is a different series, a different story, and we've studied so many penguins for so long. In one of the colonies, one pair has been together breeding and meeting for at least 17 years.' To understand penguins' ocean activity, Borboroglu and his team attach waterproof tracking devices on adults to learn where in the ocean they search for food, how far they must swim and how deep they dive. Certain penguins are outfitted with water-activated critter cameras on their backs. When they enter the ocean, the cameras start rolling, filming up to 10 hours in high definition. 'We see how penguins get together with other penguins, how they chase the fish, and how they collaborate with each other to get more food. Sometimes you can see how the species compete with their prey, and sometimes they dive so deep that it goes completely dark.' Interacting with the penguins has always been a highlight in Borboroglu's work. He carefully steps around the small birds and their nest entrances, offering greetings as he makes his way through the colony. 'Going back to a penguin colony is always a party, so I say, 'Hola, chicos,' like with friends. Every time we measure them or we deploy a track, I like to thank them because they're making a contribution: 'Thank you for carrying this. Thank you for bringing the information.'' Borboroglu and Candela Tisera Manochio — a member of the Global Penguin Society — put a tracker on a penguin's back at 'San Lorenzo' Natural Reserve in Península Valdes. Photograph by Luján Agusti Using all this data, the Global Penguin Society creates maps that visualize penguin movement in the ocean. Currently following the swimming routes of eight Magellanic penguin colonies in Patagonia, they've affectionately given each of the tracked penguins a name and profile. Many are named after celebrities — there's a Taylor Swift and a Messi that penguin enthusiasts can follow along on their ocean journeys on their website . While the names are all in good fun, Borboroglu shares, 'all this tracking information is important because it allows us to justify if there is a need for protection in certain regions of the ocean.' The 'perfect explorer' For most of their existence, penguins have adapted extraordinarily well to changes in their environment, he explains. From their origins in New Zealand over 60 million years ago, they swam across ancient waters to take up residence in the tropical and desertic climes of South America, South Africa and Australia, and put down roots in the inhospitable, icy conditions of Antarctica. 'People get disappointed in my talks when I say, 'I'm sorry, penguins are not originally from Antarctica,'' he laughs. Dubbed the 'perfect explorer' by Borboroglu, some penguin species like the Magellanic swim an estimated 10,000 miles per year between swims for food and their seasonal migration according to the Global Penguin Society's tracking data. In perspective, that's the equivalent of swimming around the planet 12 times in one penguin's lifetime, around 35 years. Other species like Antarctica's emperor penguins don't migrate, but they brave temperatures of minus-60 degrees Fahrenheit and winds gusting over 100 miles an hour while incubating eggs. They dive 1,500 feet deep in frigid waters and can stay there for about 23 minutes. Adult emperor penguin resurfacing from a dive. Photograph by Paul Nicklen Sourced from: Secrets of the Penguins, copyright (c) 2025, NGC Network US, LLC. Graphic by Kara Basabe, National Geographic Society Today, however, penguins have the lowest adaptation speed of all birds. Over half of all penguin species are listed as threatened by the IUCN. Borboroglu and his colleagues considered the effects of factors like ocean temperature or animal size on adaptation speed, but he's not confident in any explanation for the stark decline in penguin adaptation yet. 'This only makes the need to protect penguins more urgent than ever,' he emphasizes, 'or the current pace of climate change will exceed the adaptive capability of penguins.' The Global Penguin Society keeps a watchful eye on how warming seas are causing shifts in prey distribution, leading to penguins traveling even longer distances and expending more energy to hunt. Intensifying heatwaves bring lethal temperatures for penguins, and trigger wildfires. 'That's a big problem because penguins do not seem to recognize the fire as a threat,' Borboroglu explains. 'In contrast with other species, they don't escape, they don't run away. They just stay in their nests and die.' With such global phenomena in mind, their goal is to minimize the impact of human-related threats as much as possible so penguins might be better able to cope with the effects of climate change. Offshore oil developments and spills contaminate or destroy marine environments that penguins rely on, harming both them and their prey. Fisheries — especially those that are mismanaged and located near existing colonies — compete with penguins for food. It's not uncommon for Borboroglu to receive reports of penguins entangled in nets during fishing operations. In cases like these, the Global Penguin Society's faithful data collection on penguin range in the ocean becomes powerful leverage in the push for conservation measures. 'We can say, 'Okay, there's a problem here,' because penguins overlap with fisheries at sea, and then we see if we can create a marine protected area there or improve the management of their activities.' Magellanic penguins at Natural Reserve 'El Pedral' in Punta Ninfas. Photograph by Luján Agusti Borboroglu estimates that penguins spend 80% of their lives in the ocean — that's why Global Penguin Society has focused heavily on the creation of marine protected areas to protect pristine ocean habitat. 'We only see them on land because they need a dry place to build a nest and incubate the eggs. Otherwise we wouldn't be seeing them,' he jokes. Lately, however, Borboroglu's become increasingly concerned with human disturbance on land. In 2022, he was alarmed to find a landowner had bulldozed over 22,000 square feet of a colony in Patagonia during the summer breeding season and constructed a mile-long road, destroying an area dense with burrow nests that harbored chicks and eggs. Borboroglu's team collected evidence of the destruction and brought it to court — the first environmental case to receive an oral trial in Argentina's history. 'It was devastating, it was exhausting,' he recalls. After a three-year legal battle, the landowner was found guilty, and a proposal to expand the protected area of the land from 210 to 1,600 hectares was approved, safeguarding 180,000 penguin pairs among other wildlife. A provincial law to protect all wildlife is in progress, alongside proposals to include environmental crimes in the national penal code. Facts are amazing as long as they are shaped in a way that can reach the emotions of people. I'm hopeful that people will learn more, but more so that they will feel that penguins and their oceans deserve our attention and action. 'We need to be able to protect the most fragile place, the colonies where the penguins are for months, protecting their chicks and eggs with their partners. [This case] highlighted the need for more legislation to protect and prevent future harm to the environment. And I think more is needed everywhere, globally.' It's Borboroglu's longstanding hope that one day, penguins and humans will reach a harmonious coexistence. While the landowner case ended in litigation, the Global Penguin Society usually opts to negotiate through colony management plans in conversation with governments, landowners and other interested parties. 'You kind of design the use of the colony. Say this area is very fragile, so people cannot get close to this space. But this other area can be used for science; this one can be open for visitors and photos.' The Global Penguin Society encourages well-managed ecotourism, creating jobs that incentivize the community in a positive feedback loop. 'As soon as the community sees that it's much better to protect, that's a home run, because then you don't need to be there policing people. They become the wardens. I think that's the great success when people really buy into what conservation means.' To Borboroglu, it's about creating a holistic culture of conservation. He sees it as a slow, educative process, sharing values that become part of a cultural inheritance transmitted from generation to generation. He connects the idea back to his own origins, of his grandmother telling him stories and implanting an early love for the animals. Now 36 years into the job, Borboroglu's tireless passion is clear as he talks about penguins. 'How can we quit if we see these little guys? They face incredible challenges — storms, predators, climate change — and yet they keep going, focused and determined. Being surrounded by these penguins, it fuels my conservation energy tank somehow.' Borboroglu and Manochio with a Magellanic penguin after taking measurements at 'San Lorenzo' Natural Reserve. Photograph by Luján Agusti Hard won victories also give him hope. Seventeen years ago, Borboroglu's team discovered a new colony of only 12 penguins in an area impacted by heavy human disturbance: hunting, fishing, setting bushfires and trash disposal. Working together with the landowner to establish protections, the colony began to grow. Today, that colony is over 8,000 breeders strong. 'I'm positive because I see the effects of action. They weren't useless. I see a lot of areas that are now protected and there are hundreds of species thriving there because we did something. When you do something, you fight the anxiety.' Right now, Borborolgu is preparing for the premiere of National Geographic's ' Secrets of the Penguins ,' the latest documentary series in the Emmy-award winning 'Secrets of' franchise, executive-produced by National Geographic Explorer at Large James Cameron . While it won't be his first on-screen appearance, it will be the first show that challenged him to share the magnitude of never-before-seen penguin behaviors with an audience. In one scene, Borboroglu is nestled on the rocky Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) coast, witnessing two different species of penguin — a rockhopper and a macaroni — breed successfully and raise viable 'rockaroni' offspring. 'That was unbelievable, like witnessing evolution with your own eyes.' He hopes the wonder of such moments permeates through the screen, instilling within viewers a sense of awe that morphs into deeper empathy. 'Facts are amazing as long as they are shaped in a way that can reach the emotions of people. I'm hopeful that people will learn more, but more so that they will feel that penguins and their oceans deserve our attention and action.' With 'Secrets of the Penguins' shining a light on all the astonishing ways these small seabirds carve out their survival across the Southern Hemisphere, the world draws one step closer to the culture of conservation that Borboroglu believes in. 'We are all so connected on this planet. It gives us everything, so there are many things we can do to thank it, to change its trajectory. It's up to us.' ABOUT THE WRITER For the National Geographic Society: Melissa Zhu is a Content Strategy Coordinator for the Society with a love for language's ability to articulate the fullness of human experience. When she's not focused on advancing the nonprofit mission of Nat Geo, you might find her immersed in a good book.
National Geographic
02-04-2025
- Entertainment
- National Geographic
Penguins are insanely resilient—and these explorers are revealing their secrets
Borboroglu's initiatives to create protected areas for penguins have helped conserve some 32 million acres of habitat, on land and at sea. Now 55, he takes inspiration from the birds' resilience—the way they swim hundreds of thousands of miles for food, avoid predators and pollution, and survive in environments increasingly impacted by climate change. 'When you see penguins making that big effort,' he reflects, 'you say, How can I give up?' Being recognized as an Explorer of the Year alongside his filmmaker friend, Borboroglu says, is 'fantastic … a great combination of different kinds of explorers and expertise.' At first, Gregory says, he was hesitant to make a documentary about penguins. The Emmy-winning host of the Disney+ series Animals Up Close, who has shot for iconic series like Planet Earth and Frozen Planet, knew that filming in penguins' harsh habitats would be tough—and worried the species was already plenty documented. 'If you're going to make a series called Secrets of the Penguins,' he says, 'you've got to show people something they've never seen before.' But Gregory embraced the challenge. To film one of the series' three episodes, he camped for more than two months near an emperor penguin colony in Antarctica's Atka Bay. He was documenting a critical phase in a penguin's life cycle, when juveniles, abandoned by their parents, are left to figure out how to become a 'proper adult penguin,' getting themselves to the ocean to swim and hunt. Gregory succeeded spectacularly in capturing behaviors never before filmed, including footage of hundreds of young emperor penguins entering the sea by 'BASE jumping' off a 50-foot cliff. 'I really think it's going to blow people's minds,' he says. 'I thought I knew what penguins' limits were. I was wrong.'
