Galapagos penguins
Galapagos penguins live on the Galapagos Islands to the west of South America. They are the only penguins that can be found at the equator. Unlike most cold water penguins, they can live where it is warm like in the Galapagos.
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They are the rarest and most endangered type of penguin in the world. The number of Galapagos penguins has fallen because for many years the number of their nesting sites has gone down. Many nests are now used by marine iguanas, or now get flooded. This has meant that they have had fewer safe places to hatch their eggs.
Scientists are helping to increase the number of penguins. They have formed a group called the Centre for Penguins as Ocean Sentinels. The scientists in this group have built 120 shady nest sites since 2010. The nests were made out of natural materials such as lava rocks. The scientists check the artificial nests to see if the penguins are using them. There have been penguins nesting in some of the artificial nests, so the scientists' work has been a success!
Keeping cool
When humans are too hot we sweat to cool our skin. Penguins can't sweat like humans. They can keep cool by swimming in the cool ocean.
When they are on land, they must keep their black backs away from the sun and their white bellies facing the sun. This is because light-coloured surfaces absorb less heat than dark surfaces. Light-coloured surfaces absorb less heat as they reflect more heat away.
When they are on land, they must keep their black backs away from the sun and their white bellies facing the sun. This is because light-coloured surfaces absorb less heat than dark surfaces. Light-coloured surfaces absorb less heat as they reflect more heat away.
http://www.igalapagos.org/the-project/
Galapagos penguins hunting fish