Snares penguins choose a habitat that has surprised many people. They live in the woods of New Zealand. People often think that penguins live in places full of ice and snow, but in fact, they are distributed in many different habitats.
Up to 60,000 Snares penguins live under the lush green trees of New Zealand. This perched land has no native animals that feed on the ground. Therefore, this forest is a penguin sanctuary. However, they are not completely comfortable here.
The penguins here have a problem, the mud. Feathers help penguins resist water and heat, so their dirty feathers can put them in danger of death. These intelligent penguins have found the solution.
Every day muddy birds run through the woods to a special bath. This is where the collective bathing activities take place. After rinsing off the mud with water, the penguins take one more step of waxing the feathers to help fight bacteria and resist water. This particular substance is secreted by a special gland near the tail.
This process can take up to 3 hours per day. It’s not easy for Snares penguins to have a well-groomed appearance, ready for a new day in this secret paradise.
