Penguins vs. Killer Whales
In Penguins vs. Killer Whales, narrator Sir David Attenborough highlights how Adélie penguins leap onto the ice to avoid a pod of killer whales that is working together. The penguins, safe on land, take big risks to take care of their babies and give them a head start in this frozen landscape. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Frozen Planet, a series that shows a fragile world of beauty and hostility, where nature finds a way to survive and thrive in frigid conditions.
Sir David Attenborough travels to the end of the earth, taking viewers on an extraordinary journey across the polar regions of our planet. Learn more.
Lesson Express
Q: How do killer whales hunt? How does this make them more dangerous?
A: They use teamwork. Student responses will vary. Students may mention that when killer whales work together, they can surround prey, making it harder for the prey to escape.
Q: Why do whales rise out of the water?
A: They rise out of the water to see which cracks in the ice lead toward the coast.
Q: What risks do Adélie penguins take to raise their young? What does it mean for a penguin parent to give its chick a head start?
A: The penguins live in a harsh environment and have to go into the sea, where there are lots of predators, to get food. Student responses will vary. Students may mention that the birds who have a head start are better fed.
More Like This
In Penguins Build Their Nests, narrator Sir David Attenborough describes how millions of male Adélie penguins come ashore to build their nests. As they make the perfect nest, some resort to theft to get just the right rocks. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Frozen Planet, a series that shows a fragile world of beauty and hostility, where nature finds a way to survive and thrive in frigid conditions.
In An Emperor Penguin Feeding Frenzy, narrator Sir David Attenborough describes how emperor penguin mothers return from the ocean with food for their chicks. Some return to find their chicks well-protected, and others return to disappointment. When spring comes to Antarctica, the Adélie penguins arrive on the ice and the emperor penguins take to the ocean to start a spring feeding frenzy. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Frozen Planet, a series that shows a fragile world of beauty and hostility, where nature finds a way to survive and thrive in frigid conditions.
In Adélie Penguin Chicks Competition, narrator Sir David Attenborough explains how penguin chicks huddle together for warmth as they wait for their parents to bring them food. When the parent penguins arrive, it’s a feeding frenzy, and not every chick will get enough to eat. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Frozen Planet, a series that shows a fragile world of beauty and hostility, where nature finds a way to survive and thrive in frigid conditions.
In Adélie Penguin Chicks at the Bottom of the World, host Andy Day highlights the Adélie penguins living in Antarctica. Starting out their lives on land, the penguin chicks practice walking and learn endurance by racing to get their portion of food from the parent who only has one portion for the two chicks. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Andy’s Baby Animals, in which Andy Day explores the lives and experiences of baby animals.
In Penguins Build Their Nests, narrator Sir David Attenborough describes how millions of male Adélie penguins come ashore to build their nests. As they make the perfect nest, some resort to theft to get just the right rocks. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Frozen Planet, a series that shows a fragile world of beauty and hostility, where nature finds a way to survive and thrive in frigid conditions.
In An Emperor Penguin Feeding Frenzy, narrator Sir David Attenborough describes how emperor penguin mothers return from the ocean with food for their chicks. Some return to find their chicks well-protected, and others return to disappointment. When spring comes to Antarctica, the Adélie penguins arrive on the ice and the emperor penguins take to the ocean to start a spring feeding frenzy. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Frozen Planet, a series that shows a fragile world of beauty and hostility, where nature finds a way to survive and thrive in frigid conditions.
In Adélie Penguin Chicks Competition, narrator Sir David Attenborough explains how penguin chicks huddle together for warmth as they wait for their parents to bring them food. When the parent penguins arrive, it’s a feeding frenzy, and not every chick will get enough to eat. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Frozen Planet, a series that shows a fragile world of beauty and hostility, where nature finds a way to survive and thrive in frigid conditions.
In Adélie Penguin Chicks at the Bottom of the World, host Andy Day highlights the Adélie penguins living in Antarctica. Starting out their lives on land, the penguin chicks practice walking and learn endurance by racing to get their portion of food from the parent who only has one portion for the two chicks. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Andy’s Baby Animals, in which Andy Day explores the lives and experiences of baby animals.