Emperor Penguin

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Item #: Kö-F6020
Manufacturer Kösen, height 43 cm (~ 17"), black-white

Emperor penguins (Aptenodytes forsteri) are the tallest penguins. The live in the Antarctica, reach a height of ca. 1.20 m (~ 4') and a weight of up to 40 kg. Although it does not look like, penguins do have a coat. It adapted itself great during evolution and offers ca. 90% isolation against the cold. Penguins can't fly anylonger, in contrast they "fly" the ocean elegant, fast and dive in a depth of ca. 500 m.
Probably most impressive might be their reproduction behaviour: After laying one egg only this is handed carefully to the father. The egg and later the cub is carried on his feet and inside a belly wrinkle to protect against the icy cold. A milky fluid feeds the penguin cub. During this time the mother is fishing in the ocean and returns in spring to displace the father and bring real food for the cub.
At the age of ca. 2 months both parents hunt for food. The young penguins stay in the huddle like in a "kindergarden" waiting for the parents return. Parents and the cubs recognize each other by their vocals.

Why does a penguin not become cold? First the coat isolates most against the cold. Next, a colony of Emperor Penguins forms a compact huddle with each bird leaning forward on a neighbour. It can be seen that this huddle moves in waves and it is thought today, that each penguin initializes this movement when the space between each other is larger than 2 cm!
Their feet are ice-cold. Little blood circulates the feet only. The cold upstreaming blood cools down the warm downstreaming blood: Hence the feet stay cold. This is needed to not getting the ice melt below their feet.

Our Emperor Penguin is prepared for cold, snow covered, and icy rooms, to fish for food or to skiing on its belly on the ice. But it will love a warm and cosy place as well. Playing companions are warmly welcomed, too.

Height: 22 cm (~ 17")
Colour: Black-white
Material: Special polyester fibre
Manufacturer: Kösener Spielzeug Manufaktur, Germany

The proceeds of this sale will be donated to a children's charity organisation.

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