Swedish photojournalist Derek Pettersson witnessed a comical showdown between king penguins vying for a female’s attention at Volunteer Point in the Falkland Islands.
He captured the humorous slapping battle, where the penguins used their beaks to slap and prod each other to catch the female’s eye.
The scene almost resembled a slow-motion conflict, reminiscent of the 1999 science-fiction blockbuster The Matrix.
Watch the video at the end.
Derek, who also runs a tourist destination lodge, explained that this is an expected courtship behavior among male penguins.
He said, “Several others join in during courtship to try and attract the interested partner. They use their beaks to slap and poke each other.”
Derek was thrilled to snap photos of this fun event and share these charming birds’ fascinating lives and behaviors.
He added, “Most people are slightly startled by the pictures until I explain why they’re happening. The optimum period to see this is from late November until late February.”
Volunteer Point, located in the northeast of the archipelago, is home to over 1,500 breeding adult king penguins and up to 700 chicks raised each year.
Derek noted that these penguins are not hunted on land in the area, and as long as visitors respect the wildlife and maintain a safe distance, the chicks might even come up to investigate.
Volunteer Point is one of the best and most accessible locations for photographing king penguins.
Watch the video below:
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