Tuesday 21 June 2016

The penguin prostitutes


The story about penguins falling over backwards as they watch a plane flying overhead and keep watching until they overbalance, has been going the rounds for some time, although it may just be an “outdoor urban myth”. However, a few years ago a wildlife expert from Australia reported another reason why penguins, particularly female ones, might be found in unfortunate positions.
Adelie penguins on the coast of Antarctica build their nests from small stones, which are therefore highly prized at breeding time in the enormous colonies that these birds create. Theft of stones is common, but some enterprising females have hit on a new way of getting hold of a supply.
On the fringes of the colony, the young males who have not yet found a mate are doubtless sexually frustrated, but they have the advantage of ready access to large numbers of stones from outside the colony. They therefore collect piles of the best stones, with which they buy sexual favours from the breeding females who visit them with the sole purpose of getting hold of a stone. The going rate appears to be one good stone per shag.
In this trade, everyone's a winner. Except perhaps for the male penguin back at the nest who might be wondering (a) why the missus is looking so VERY pleased with herself when she gets back with a stone, (b) why she has taken so long getting it, and (c) why she keeps complaining about a headache when he suggests that they have an early night.

© John Welford

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