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Ten Favorite Penguin Pictures from Antarctica Cruise - Penguins in Antarctic

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Baby Penguin Chick Chasing Parent for Food in Antarctica

Antarctic penguin chick chasing parent

Penguin chicks must often chase their parents to get fed

Photo (c) Linda Garrison
Many baby penguin chicks spend a lot of time chasing their parents (or other adult penguins) across the rocks. Although all those baby penguins might look alike to us, the parents can recognize their young and will only feed their own chicks. We saw many adults being chased by several chicks at a time, but the babies not belonging to the adults would eventually quit the chase, allowing the parent to then feed the chosen one.

Some penguin pairs breed two chicks. Our guide explained that this "chase" also helped the strongest chick to get most of the food--sad, but survival of the fittest at work.

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