The Most Stressful Handoff
Emperor penguin parents must transfer their egg from mom to dad in -40°C weather — if it touches the ice for too long, the embryo dies.
Emperor penguins breed in the harshest conditions on Earth: the Antarctic winter. Their egg transfer ritual is one of the most perilous moments in animal parenting.
After laying a single egg, the female must transfer it to the male — who will incubate it for the next two months while she walks 50+ miles to the ocean to feed. This handoff is fraught with danger:
- Temperatures can be -40°C (-40°F) with 100 mph winds - If the egg touches the ice for more than a minute or two in extreme cold, the embryo can die - The egg must be transferred from foot to foot while balanced on top of their feet - About 25% of eggs are lost during transfer or incubation
The male then huddles with thousands of other males, going completely without food for over two months while keeping the egg warm in a special brood pouch. Males can lose up to 45% of their body weight during this fast.
When females return (navigating using the stars, sun, and landmarks), they must find their specific mate among thousands of identical-looking penguins. They do this by voice — each penguin has a unique call. The chick then transfers to mom, and dad finally gets to eat.