Race Against the Thaw
In Race Against the Thaw, narrator Sir David Attenborough follows penguins as they rush across the frozen Antarctic sea to reach their breeding grounds before the thaw. The penguins, along with other animals like dolphins and whales, must time their journey carefully. Chinstrap penguins come ashore to nest, finding bare rock to lay their eggs, which is a valuable and necessary resource. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Planet Earth, a breathtaking documentary series that highlights the natural wonders of our planet.
Lesson Express
Q: Why are the penguins in a hurry to cross the ice?
A: They need to reach their breeding grounds before the ice melts.
Q: What is special about the bare rock for the chinstrap penguins?
A: The penguins need the bare rock to lay their eggs, as they cannot nest directly on ice.
Q: What other animals are shown in the video?
A: Dolphins and whales are also shown traveling further south as the ice retreats.