Plucky penguins are seen riding the waves like seasoned surfboarders in amusing photographs!
They may not have the equipment, but these Gentoo penguins on Bleaker Island in the Falklands know how to catch a barrel.
While some paddled away from the waves in terror, which are comparatively tall for their 20-inch frames, some pluckier penguins seem to move along the water majestically.
Elmar Weiss, a Hamburg-based photographer, captured the daring birds in action while visiting the archipelago last month.
“It’s clear that the penguins are surfing,” Einar added. “Without a doubt, it reminded me of Surf’s Up – an animated film.”
“It’s incredible to see how talented they are; they appear to be having a lot of fun playing in the wave.
“You can see all the details and notice things on a ‘frozen’ photo, taken at the right moment, such as that penguins are excellent surfers who are surfing South Atlantic style.”
Even though you can see the penguin leaping with your own eyes,
“If a Gentoo jumps out of the water, he lands on his feet, with the following wave behind him.”
“If you take a photo at the right moment, it seems that the Gentoo penguin is surfing!
It’s tough to get a penguin in flight or “surfing” since you can’t see them while they’re diving.
“When you see a penguin jumping, it’s almost too late to take a photograph; the activity lasts only milliseconds.
“I’m so glad I have the chance to get this collection of photos; it’s an honor to see these penguins in their natural habitat.”
The Falkland Islands are home to the world’s largest population of breeding Gentoo penguins, with about 121,500 breeding pairs.
“The Gentoo Penguins were out hunting for fish and krill in the ocean, and they’re bringing food back to their colony to feed their kids.
“They leap into the sea like dolphins before going onto the beach. They are swimming inside a wave, parallel to the coast, and jumping out of a wave.”
Elmar positioned his camera 25 meters from the waterline and waited for them to jump to photograph the penguins.
“It’s difficult to capture these sights,” he said. “However, I have a little secret.
When the sun was out and the sea was calm, I could observe the shadows of diving penguins as they swam beneath the surface and track them with my camera using a long lens with a teleconverter.
“I only had to wait until they began to jump from there.”
