R.I.P

This is it folks. The penguin kids did not last long. My next trip after the egg had hatched was on 21st Dec. I was delighted to find not one but two boisterous penguin chicks. They were tiny creatures, grey in colour and were flapping their tiny wings. They were hovering around their parent’s legs, darting in and out, chirping without a moment’s break, except when the parent lay down on them on its belly. The parent penguin did not move an inch from its place. It was constantly poking its beak at the kids, as if scolding them. It was a delightful sight. But their fate was never in doubt. My next visit to the place was on 25th Dec. This time the parent penguin was their, but the place was very quite. There was no chirping to be heard. The parent was still firmly in its place, but there was no movement near its feet. My worst fears came true when I zoomed in my camera near its feet. There lay two lifeless, furry creatures. The parent was standing guard over them, as if expecting them to come to life. It was constantly prodding them with its beak. But there was no chance. The kids were gone. The icy continent had taken its toll and the penguin kids met their fate. There was no food to go by for the penguins. The continent is lifeless, except for the birds, and the sea is 100km away. By the time the other parent returns with food, it is too little too late. But the penguins continue to come here following their instinct, looking for rocks to nest in. Now I only hope that the parent realises the futility of standing guard at the site and goes to the sea for food. Else, it will also meet the same fate. When that happens, the skuas are going to have a grand feast. If that does not happen and the penguin stays back any longer, they are going to have a real gala time.



That’s nature. Can’t help much.