Meet the Galapagos Penguin! And learn about this unique bird

If you have peeked through the many animal species of Galapagos, you might have stomped with the fact that penguins live there. I will remark this: penguins are living near the Equator on tropical islands.

And yeah, this might sound a little crazy, right? Especially with all the winter imagery associated with the suited bird. But the Galapagos is a unique haven for wildlife; thus, rare, unusual, and unique animal species are not hard to find over here.

So, how is it that some of them were able to go to the Galapagos and breed? Well, that's quite a long story, but here we have a quick summary.

How did penguins arrive here?

Galapagos Penguins are descendants of the well-known emperor penguin, even if they do not resemble that much. This means their ancestors had to travel a lot from the South Pole to the Galapagos Islands and eventually adapt to be able to survive in such different conditions.

As for the way they travelled, the most plausible theory is that some of these birds got caught in the cold water currents that ran north. Particularly in the case of Galapagos, the Humboldt is the one that most likely drove them to the archipelago, and it is one of the essential environmental factors that helps their survival.

But isn't it too hot for them?

Well, Galapagos is indeed a tropical archipelago, but thanks to the Humbolt current, Galapagos penguins can live here comfortably.

The cold Humboldt current is one of the principal factors for their survival. It helps the birds by cooling them off and also by keeping the coral reefs and surrounding aquatic environments. So, it is due to this water current the little guys can find food within the Galapagos' vicinity.

Because of these conditions, our feathered friends can find food easily throughout most of —if not all— the year. And even if food is not as abundant as in other years, the evolutionary peculiarities of this bird species allow them to live through some short periods of scarcity.

And talking about the way they have adapted.

The Unique Traits of Galapagos Penguins

As we told you, this species has developed unique characteristics that help them survive in an ecosystem so far from their usual living conditions. First, they became smaller in size since it is easier to lose body heat. So, while their ancestors in the South Pole are about 3 ft 9 in (1 mt), Galapagos penguins are about a foot and a half (19.2 in or 49cm). This positions them as one of the smallest species of penguins!

Because of their size, they also don't need as much food as their relatives in the South Pole. This means they don't need to eat or hunt as much as bigger species, but on top of that, they can endure short times of scarcity pretty well.

Since they still need cold to survive, they spend most of the day in the water, leaving it just for short rests and to check on their nests.

And about their nests, they use natural lava formations as nests since the terrain is porose, and it can protect the eggs pretty well from many natural predators. This is useful, considering that they reproduce all year round.

As some curious adaptations our friends have, they have adapted to the Galapagos' dry climate with little things like the pink patches they have along their feet and face to help them cool off. They also slouch to cover their feet and protect them from sunburns, and they can pant to cool off their bodies on hot days (Yes. Like dogs do).

So, this unique species of bird have

Where can you spot them?

It is not very hard to spot these rare birds.  They are abundant on Isabela Island's coasts. Fernandina also has a large population of penguins, and some smaller populations can be found around Bartolome, Floreana, and Santiago.

Because of this, spotting Galapagos penguins can be easy as long as you pay a visit to the Galapagos' Lava Tunnels. Our tour recommendation would be our tour, The Best of Galapagos, which allows you to enjoy the Galapagos in a complete experience. However, if you would like a more active adventure, we recommend our trip: Galapagos Multisport, an adventure that is full of activities for you to enjoy. And if none of these tours fits what you expect, you can enjoy our Galapagos Discovery tour.

So, you have many opportunities to spot the penguins.  However, please remember, if you wish to swim or snorkel alongside a penguin, you should not try to touch them because of the regulation policies the Galapagos have to protect their animal species. Besides, penguins are extremely fast, and they dart below the surface to catch their food. They will probably ignore you if you are in the waters that surround them.

Penguins and conservation

With all this said about the Galapagos penguins, now it's necessary to talk about the importance of this species and the dangers it faces.

These species are unique in the world, and their adaptability could teach a lot about life itself. As with many other species in the Galapagos, we can learn a lot about how the environment shapes evolution and to what extent.

These penguins are considered endangered due to climate, and that's one of the main reasons you shouldn't approach them without supervision.

Do you remember we said how crucial cold water currents are for the Galapagos penguins? Well, due to climate change, food can be scarce during more extended periods than those the penguins can endure.

You can check a complete description of the Galapagos penguin situation here. 

But don’t misinterpret this; we are not telling you to come and meet these fluffy friends, but we are telling you to be careful with this wonderful animal species. We all want to preserve them and keep on visiting them. Don't you?

Written by Juan Fernando Acosta