13 Amazing (and Adorable) Photos From Hulu’s ‘March of the Penguins 2: The Next Step’
Emperor penguins at the breeding grounds perform “slow dancing” mating rituals.
A mated couple of penguins will cooperate, taking turns caring for the egg or the chick while the other goes to sea to hunt.
An emperor penguin family stays together only for one breeding season. When their young reaches adolescence, the mother and father will go their separate ways.
Emperor penguins have distinct calls which allow the parents to identify their young among thousands of other penguins.
A young emperor penguin grows quickly and has a high demand for food. His parents both return to the sea to hunt, leaving their young one behind at the colony.
Young emperor penguins huddle together for warmth and safety in a group (called a crèche). They soon discover that being separated from the group leaves them vulnerable to predators such as petrels.
If an emperor penguin colony grows too large, it may form “suburbs” that might eventually grow into separate colonies.
Climate change and warming seas are causing the ice pack to shrink, threatening penguins’ food sources. Plankton in the sea ice feeds krill, which feed the fish that are the emperor penguins’ main food supply.
The ever-changing ice of Antarctica makes the emperor penguins’ frequent journeys to the sea difficult to navigate.
Emperor penguins huddle together for warmth against the harsh winds. Their species has evolved to thrive in this unforgiving climate.
Of the emperor penguins born in a breeding season, only half will still be alive in four months. Only only one in 10 will survive to adulthood.
Young emperor penguins will stay in a “penguin daycare” while both of its parents have gone to sea to hunt.
If the sea ice continues to melt at its current rate, the emperor penguin could face extinction before the end of the century.
Meet the remarkable emperor penguin…again. 2005’s Oscar-winning nature documentary March of the Penguins finally has a sequel.
March of the Penguins 2: The Next Step debuts on Hulu March 23, featuring more stunning footage of an emperor penguin colony in Antarctica and the touching story of penguin parents raising their son in one of the world’s harshest environments. Filmmaker Luc Jacquet spent two months shooting in Antarctic winter, this time employing new technologies like 4K cameras, airborne drones and under-ice diving. And, yes, Morgan Freeman is back as narrator.
Check out the gallery above for 13 amazing (and adorable) photos and facts from Hulu’s March of the Penguins 2: The Next Step, and enjoy the trailer below.
March of the Penguins 2: The Next Step, Available March 23 on Hulu
