King Penguins Parents Brave a Perilous Trek
In King Penguins Parents Brave a Perilous Trek, narrator Sir David Attenborough explains that chicks are bred on isolated Marion Island in the polar sea. Parents return from days of fishing and brave a trek past elephant seals to feed their young. This video is excerpted from BBC's Planet Earth, a breathtaking documentary series that highlights the natural wonders of our planet.
Sir David Attenborough celebrates the amazing variety of the natural world in this epic documentary series, filmed over four years across 64 different countries. Learn more.
Lesson Express
Q: Describe the location and conditions of Marion Island.
A: It is located halfway between South Africa and the South Pole; it is rocky and treeless; it is in the roaring forties, so there are incessant gale-force winds; the water is cold and stormy; the water is rich in nutrients and fish.
Q: Why do you think penguin chicks are dependent on their parents for so long? Think about what you observe in the video.
A: The chicks in the video have a different coat of feathers than the parents, so they might not be ready to swim and fish for themselves.
Q: Why do you think elephant seals are a danger to king penguins?
A: Student responses will vary. Students may suggest that they don’t hunt penguins for food, but they could probably hurt them if they’re just bad-tempered.