Penguins are wonderful creatures! They’re unlike any other bird you’ve seen in your backyard or at the park. They’ve adapted to their cold surroundings in a way that makes them unique.
One of the interesting facts about penguins is that they spend about half of their time in water and the other half on land.
Here is a more fascinating story about a little penguin.
Every year, the South African Megallanic Penguin swims 5,000 miles to see the man who saved his life. It may sound like something right out of a fantasy, but it’s real!
João Pereira de Souza, rescued the penguin, a 73-year old part-time fisherman who lives in an island village near Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
João discovered the tiny penguin on the rocks at his local beach.
The penguin was drenched in oil, unable to move, and on the brink of death.
To strengthen his endurance, he washed the oil from the penguin’s feathers and fed him a regular diet of fish.
João named the penguin Jinjing.
After a week, João took the penguin to a nearby island in a boat and released it. João later heard squawking in his backyard that day.
He was surprised to see the penguin had returned and was calling out to him.
Jinjing remained with João for another 11 months, and then shortly after replacing his coat with new feathers, he disappeared.
Jinjing’s whereabouts are unknown at this time.
A few months later, João heard a loud squawk coming from his backyard, and Jinjing was there, waiting for him, and the two were reunited once again.
This has happened every year since then. The penguin’s location is unknown after he departs.
It’s been speculated that he spends the majority of his time breeding off the coasts of Argentina and Chile, heading up to 5,000 miles round trip from breeding grounds to see João.
The fact is that nobody really knows where he goes.
But one thing is certain — he goes away and returns every year to be reunited with the man who saved his life.
João said:
“I love this penguin like it’s my own child, and I believe the penguin loves me. No one else is allowed to touch him. He pecks them if they do.”
They were the best of confidantes!
“He lies on my lap, let me give him showers, allows me to feed him sardines, and to pick him up.”
João explained that:
“Everyone said he wouldn’t return, but he has been coming back to visit me every year. He arrives in June and leaves to go home in February, and every year he becomes more affectionate, as he appears even happier to see me.”
Jinjing’s thought to believe the fisherman is also a penguin. He wags his tail like a puppy and honks with excitement when he sees him.
Penguins are normally faithful to their mate.
And Mr. João has been like family to Jinjing.
Take a look at the sweet story of this little penguin in the video below!
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