Book 11, Question 73
Why Do Emperor Penguin Dads Hold Eggs?
Emperor penguin dads hold the eggs because the moms need to go to sea to eat! Dad keeps the egg warm through the freezing Antarctic winter. It is a big job, and he does it without a single meal.
More fun facts
- A female emperor penguin lays a single egg and then heads out to sea.
- The dad balances the egg on top of his feet, covered by a warm fold of skin.
- He keeps it warm through the bitter Antarctic winter.
- Thanks to their blubber, dads can keep eggs warm for weeks without eating.
- Emperor penguin parents face hunger, freezing weather and hungry leopard seals to keep their chicks fed.
Sources: BBC, National Geographic Kids, Smithsonian Magazine, National Geographic
Questions kids ask
Where does the mother penguin go?
After laying her single egg, she leaves, and the dad keeps it warm.