Snow Penguins at Ski Dubai

Q.	Are penguins birds?
A.	Yes, penguins are birds. They have feathers, lay eggs and have forelimbs modified as wings, but in this case used for swimming. They also share all the other characteristics of birds, being warm-blooded (around 40oC) and having a reduced reproductive system (one functional ovary or testis).
Q.	What do penguins eat?
A.	The diet of penguins varies between species and in some cases, location. The species taken include a wide range of fish, squid, octopus and euphuists (shrimp-like animals). Some species of penguin target surface-schooling fish species while others are mid-water or bottom feeders.

Q.	How long do penguins live for?
A.	Most species have an average life expectancy of about 10-20 years in the wild and 15-25 under human care, although some individuals occasionally live for up to 30 years.
Q.	Do all penguins live at the South Pole?
A.	Not all penguins actually live at the South Pole, but two species do live on the edges of the Antarctic continent. The islands of the Antarctic and sub-Antarctic support the largest number of species; there are several species that live in temperate climates and one at the equator (the Galapagos penguin). No wild penguins live in the northern hemisphere.

Q.	Do penguins fly?
A.	No, penguins use their wings (called flippers) to propel themselves through water rather than air. Because water is much denser than air, penguin wings are shorter and stouter than the wings of flying birds. Penguins are also much heavier than similar sized flying birds and have solid bones rather than weight-saving air-filled bones. While these characteristics enable penguins to efficiently "fly" through water, they have had to sacrifice the ability to fly in air to do so.
Q.	Do polar bears eat penguins?
A.	No, penguins cleverly avoid being eaten by polar bears by living in separate hemispheres!.

Q.	How many Gentoo and King Penguins live in the wild?
A.	Estimated, more than 3 million King Penguins. Estimated, more than half a million Gentoo Penguins. Different sources say different things, but neither species is presently under threat.

Q.	Are Gentoo and King Penguins endangered?
A.	No, Gentoo and King Penguins are not endangered at this moment. If there would be an oil spill, or a disease outbreak in a major breeding area, this could change within 24 hours. Gentoo Penguins are classified as 'Near Threatened', which means numbers of Penguin populations might be increasing on Antarctic Peninsula and South Sandwich Island, and might be decreasing on some islands. King Penguins are classified as 'Least Concern', which means numbers of Penguin populations are stable or increasing.

Q.

Are Gentoo and King Penguins endangered?

A.

No, Gentoo and King Penguins are not endangered at this moment. If there would be an oil spill, or a disease outbreak in a major breeding area, this could change within 24 hours.
Gentoo Penguins are classified as 'Near Threatened', which means numbers of Penguin populations might be increasing on Antarctic Peninsula and South Sandwich Island, and might be decreasing on some islands.
King Penguins are classified as 'Least Concern', which means numbers of Penguin populations are stable or increasing.

Q.	What does conservation has to do with penguins, and why is conservation important?
A.	We hope that by experiencing this unique, close contact interaction with our penguins, people will get a better understanding and appreciation of these extraordinary species, but also to appreciate their wild counterparts. Conservation plays a very important role in this, because we would love for our children, grandchildren and great grand children to still be able to see Penguins, and all other wild animals that are part of conserving this planet.

Q.

What does conservation has to do with penguins, and why is conservation important?

A.

We hope that by experiencing this unique, close contact interaction with our penguins, people will get a better understanding and appreciation of these extraordinary species, but also to appreciate their wild counterparts. Conservation plays a very important role in this, because we would love for our children, grandchildren and great grand children to still be able to see Penguins, and all other wild animals that are part of conserving this planet.

Size:	61-76 cm (24-30 inches)
Weight:	5,5 - 6,4 KG (12-14 lbs)
Life Span:	15 - 20 years old
Diet:	primarily small fish species and krill

Size:	94 cm (37 inches)
Weight:	13,5 - 16 KG (30 - 35 lbs)
Life Span:	15 - 20 years old
Diet:	primarily fishes and squid

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