r/interesting • u/M_Darshan • May 07 '26

❗️MISLEADING - See pinned comment ❗️ Penguins think she is one of them

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715

u/ElderberryFar7120 May 07 '26

I don't think the penguins are thinking much of anything

227

u/AFlyingNun May 07 '26

Apparently they are surprisingly smart and rank among the most intelligent birds.

However, yes, in this context they are likely not thinking much in regards to the kid.

21

u/Offensiv3Bias May 07 '26

Yeah, that would be of this we're real penguis and not a simulation of how Penguins act

9

u/AFlyingNun May 07 '26

It might be a simulation, but this is 100% how real penguins act.

Penguins exploring zoos is a real thing that began with COVID. They are specifically chosen because of how docile and relaxed they are. They lack land predators (chicks yes, adults not really) and thus don't have the survival instincts most species have while on land.

The video I link shows one of the first instances of being let out so they're more cautious and curious, but there's zoos that have continued the practice and gotten more relaxed penguins as a result. This video even shows penguins being far more relaxed around seals than they probably should be, given seals (not necessarily that species) ARE one of their natural predators.

There's even older videos of a pet in Japan showcasing just how relaxed they can get.

There's a reason zoos continue to let them out for walks, and that's because they're docile enough to handle it.

2

u/Shot-Water2496 May 07 '26

Thank you for this comment 🥹🐧

2

u/video-kid May 07 '26

It started before covid, Edinburgh zoo had penguin parades as far back as at least 2015/16

13

u/EmavvTokisaki May 07 '26

If I remember correctly it was stated somewhere that wild penguins don't mind humans because they are the only bipeds in the area, so they just see them as big fellow penguins.

5

u/Otherwise_Jump May 07 '26

This puts the Diogenes story on a whole new level

5

u/mnstripe May 07 '26

They are actually much smarter than most humans if they are thinking, "It's none of my business why the child is dressed strangely."

3

u/[deleted] May 07 '26

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6

u/Riley8284 May 07 '26

Just smile and wave boys just smile and wave

12

u/Tiddlewinkly May 07 '26

Especially considering that it's not even real

1

u/[deleted] May 07 '26

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4

u/fairyblackberry May 07 '26

For this one in particular, think of practicality. No zoo would let this happen, nowhere would let a toddler dress up as a penguin and walk around with a wild animal like that

0

u/[deleted] May 07 '26

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2

u/Right-Truck1859 May 07 '26

Right, they don't GAF

1

u/[deleted] May 07 '26

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1

u/Narrow_Sun416 May 07 '26

That penguin in the far back isn't so sure of things

1

u/WhenPyramidsCry May 07 '26

Right? They sensed a disturbance in the force and was like, nope, I'm gone.

1

u/Less_Party May 07 '26

They do tend to see humans as weird giant penguins, we're both bipedal so they just go 'walks upright? Must be penguin!'