They may look cute but penguins are in fact antisocial, dirty and aggressive beasts.
Who is a penguin’s favorite relative? Aunt Arctica! We are delighted by their upright waddling, flappy arms, ridiculous fluff-ball chicks and adults that get around sliding on their belly like a drunk guy who’s fallen over poolside at a barbecue. What’s not to love? But a closer look reveals that these adorable tuxedoed birds have a terrifying dark side.
If you think penguins are cute and cuddly, you’re wrong. They skipped over these 9 facts in “Happy Feet,” but here’s the truth:
1. Penguins frequently cheat on their partners
We tend to think of penguins as monogamous, with social bonds formed between two parents for life. Monogamy isn’t for all penguins, though. Penguins aren’t exactly loyal. Nearly a third of female Humboldt penguins cheat on their partner, in many cases with a member of the same sex. And one in 10 female Adélie penguins has a bird on the side.
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