Lovely Penguins

Life is so miraculous! I was watching "March of the Penguins". It started with the penguins immerging from the water. As we all know, penguins live in the South Pole where the weather is below the freezing point. It is really wonderful to see how God put them in such a freezing cold place and yet create them in a way that they can adapt to the environment.

Of course, the documentary included the mating part as well. I won't elaborate so much on that. But one thing that was very significant in that was the part where the egg was born. I'm sure the mother penguin suffer as much as our mothers did. But, she persisted. The mothers then went to look for food. The father penguin on the other hand "volunteered" to take care of the egg. Then, the egg was given to him and he took care of it with love and only love. No matter what the weather they encountered, the egg was always close with them and it didn't leave their side for even a single second. Be it snowstorm, sunny day or whatever it is, the eggs were well taken care of. As a group of penguins, I can see that they really practice "team work". Seeing them walk from one place to another, huddling together to give warm to each other and to protect the young (or the eggs), it really touches my heart. What a big sacrifice the father penguin gave for their children. What more our parents?

Step by step, they walked to their destinations. Penguins can only take small steps at a time but their perseverance made everything possible. It really boosted me up! They did not give up but continued to walk and walk and walk. It sent me thinking- with perseverance, even animals can do it, why not we humans? We should be like them by setting our goals and strive to achieve it.

Back to the penguins again. I actually saw them eating ice!!! It's like this. While they were waiting for the eggs to hatch, they did not eat at all because the egg was with them all the time and they did not have the chance to go and find food. Imagine feeding on ice. Such a cold weather! Oh my goodness! Really can't imagine that!!! Parents huh? They are like this- 24 hours with the children in order the children would not be hurt. Yes! Maklumlah, it's parents we're talking here. Haha..

Another one! The way the penguins swim is just awesome! So graceful, so free, so beautiful... Swimming might be fun but they need to watch out of the leopard seals who were hungry. Just with a snap of its teeth and they're gone (the penguins of course!). Why!? That's so cruel! However, that's the food web right? But, penguins are so adorable, how can you afford to eat it up? Ohh....

Up to that moment of time, the father penguins were still huddling together to give warmth to their eggs. About 3 months later, the long awaited moment came. The eggs were hatched! New lives entered the world! However, the worse is yet to come. No matter how cold or how hungry the fathers were, they still have to keep moving on. Mind you, they had not been eating for months! Despite of the hunger, the fathers still cough some milk substance to feed their young. But sad to say, some did not make it. Here is where the mother penguins go back to the fathers to give their yong a scrumptious meal. I was thinking, what would be the mother's reactions if she knew that her child did not make it? It must be real hurtful! For some mothers, they see their babies for the very first time. Imagine the joy in the mothers' heart. Aww... Guess how they find their "husbands"? No through sight but through voice. Amazing isn't it!? Time for the fathers to say goodbye. Is bidding farewell to your child sad? I've not been in that situation before so I don't know.

Remember the first day when we went to our kindergarten? Some of us clung to our mothers' leg and sticked to it as if UHU glue was applied. For me, my mum told me that I was so excited that I told my mum to go home soon after she sent me to my classroom. Haha.. Guess I was special. Of course in some cases, I would not want to leave my mum. The little penguins are like some of us, not ready to leave our mothers and always want to be by their side to get protection, get love and the "manja" where we cannot get anywhere. As a newborn, some of them can't adapt to the strong snowstorm and there it goes... saying bye-bye to the world they did not stay long. The loss is unbearable! It grieves me seeing the mothers trying to "wake" their dead children. Some mothers even atempted to steal others child to replace their loss. Some in the group did not allow this to happen and went forward to stop the mother. Few penguins fought! I was so scared that the little one will get hurt. This documentary really is beneficial. It let me know what is life and what we should do.