Widowed Penguins Spotted ‘Comforting’ Each Other, Others Seen Strolling The Streets

Have you ever wondered if animals were surprised to wake up one morning and find no humans around or no cars honking? With the coronavirus pandemic bringing the entire world to a standstill, animals must be wondering, “Where did all the humans go?”

Which is probably why three African penguins were spotted walking on an empty street in Simon’s Town to keep a “watchful eye”, reports Hindustan Times. A video of the incident was shared by Penguin and Seabird rehabilitation centre SANCCOB.

Three penguins are seen crossing the street and hopping on to a pavement. The fastest one stops for a moment for the other two to catch up and then races off again! Have a look:

#Lockdown perks for #Africanpenguins in Simon’s Town while #penguinrangers keep a watchful eye. #endangeredspecies @CityofCT @TableMountainNP @CTEnviroEd #savesseabirds #marinewildlife #conservationpartners pic.twitter.com/37I4KNrLPq

— SANCCOB (@SANCCOB) April 17, 2020

The video has left people on the internet fascinated! Some pointed out they are “law-abiding” for walking on the pavement while others claimed that nature is better off without humans.

https://twitter.com/Helga_Links/status/1251483886820999171

They’re on their way to rob a bank. I am convinced 😂

— Phumzile Van Damme (@zilevandamme) April 18, 2020

The little hop onto the pavement lmao so law abiding

— moosesnWoop (@DiloNaicker) April 18, 2020

They’re way too cute! Thanks for sharing 🙏🏾 it adds a bit of brightness to the day 😊

— Inga Ndibongo (@INNdibongo) April 18, 2020

How cool no humans to annoy them

— Mandy Scanlen (@MandyScanlen) April 18, 2020

https://twitter.com/BaseMorekure/status/1251463021160996864

Speaking of penguins, in another adorable incident, two widowed penguins were captured standing together and watching the Melbourne skyline, comforting each other. The beautiful picture was shot by photographer Tobias Baumgaertner.

“The white one was an elderly lady who had lost her partner and apparently so did the younger male to the left. Since then they meet regularly comforting each other and standing together for hours watching the dancing lights of the nearby city,” the photographer wrote.

View this post on Instagram

During times like this the truly lucky ones are those that can be with the person/people they love most. I captured this moment about a year ago. These two Fairy penguins poised upon a rock overlooking the Melbourne skyline were standing there for hours, flipper in flipper, watching the sparkling lights of the skyline and ocean. A volunteer approached me and told me that the white one was an elderly lady who had lost her partner and apparently so did the younger male to the left. Since then they meet regularly comforting each other and standing together for hours watching the dancing lights of the nearby city. I spend 3 full nights with this penguin colony until I was able to get this picture. Between not being able or allowed to use any lights and the tiny penguins continuously moving, rubbing their flippers on each other’s backs and cleaning one another, it was really hard to get a shot but i got lucky during one beautiful moment. I hope you enjoy this moment as much as I did. #lovewillalwayswin • 📸 @tobiasvisuals •Shot on Nikon Z6, Nikkor 50mm 1.4, ISO 8000, 50mm, f/1.4, 1/60 sec

A post shared by Tobias Baumgaertner (@tobiasvisuals) on Mar 25, 2020 at 4:16pm PDT

Tobias went on to reveal how while the other penguins were “sleeping or running around”, those two stood there, holding each other in their flippers, talking about “penguin stuff”!

“Pain has brought them together. I guess sometimes you find love when you least expect it. It’s a privilege to truly love someone, paradisiacal when they love you back,” he added.

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Pinguins Part 2. “… Love is the only game in which we win even when we lose” The way that these two lovebirds were caring for one another stood out from the entire colony. While all the other penguins were sleeping or running around, those two seemed to just stand there and enjoy every second they had together, holding each other in their flippers and talking about penguin stuff. Pain has brought them together (see PART 1). I guess sometimes you find love when you least expect it. It’s a privilege to truly love someone, paradisiacal when they love you back. 📸 @tobiasvisuals • (Even though it is very similar to the previous image I thought it’d be a pity to not share it with you guys) • • —>FOR PRINTS PLEASE visit my website www.tobiasvisuals.com <— or link in description <—

A post shared by Tobias Baumgaertner (@tobiasvisuals) on Apr 13, 2020 at 5:01pm PDT

People took to the comment section to express how moved they were after reading the beautiful story.

That’s it. Penguins are my new favourite animals!