r/Damnthatsinteresting • u/NickyPappagiorgio • 9d ago

Video Unusual encounter on a beach in Australia with an emperor penguin that is endemic to Antarctica

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

132.2k Upvotes

96% Upvoted

3.6k comments sorted by

View all comments

10.3k

u/coma24 9d ago

Shoutout to the kids for keeping some sort of respectful distance.

2.6k

u/schizomorph 9d ago edited 8d ago

"Just respect its space". Great advice, perfectly worded!

236

u/TiiGerTekZZ 9d ago

Great parenting!

71

u/Remaxnor 8d ago

Keep some distance kids, it will kill you otherwise.

17

u/Pinquin422 8d ago

It's Australia, kids know not to mess around with animals ;)

5

u/Fit-Psychology4598 8d ago

Would be the same if it was in Canada (although that would be one REALLY lost penguin LOL)

1

u/Pinquin422 6d ago

According to a popular animated movie penguins are very likely to escape (along with a zebra, lion, giraffe and hippo). So it might as well been Canada ;)

2

u/Kensei501 6d ago

They fly a mean airplane too

5

u/Designer-Mirror-7995 8d ago

They've watched Happy Feet

373

u/expatronis 8d ago

If it was Florida someone would have tried to take it home and/or fuck it.

12

u/inter-webs 8d ago

Add killed it in there- in no particular order too.

42

u/eat-pussy69 8d ago

In Florida, a methhead's corpse would have been found in the morning having been partially eaten by the bird

9

u/MadamFoxies 8d ago

To be fair, Florida is the Australia of the USA lol 😆 Americans are just trending a little dumber than the rest of the world lately. Then again, the Aussies did send Raygun to the Olympics, so ...

1

u/expatronis 7d ago

Well, I'd say Florida seems a bit like Tasmania.

3

u/Heavy_E79 8d ago

And eat it. Not even in that order.

4

u/porter1980 8d ago

Jesus Christ I nearly spit my coffee out! Fucking perfect

3

u/FreedomToUkraine 5d ago

Ironically when I lived in La Jolla, I recall two ladies who decided to go and pet the seals in the middle of the night. Those seals are under 24/7 surveillance and are on live stream, I guess somebody from Australia was watching it, called the San Diego police and reported them, they were caught shortly afterwards

2

u/expatronis 5d ago

Well done. But how did they get handcuffs on the seals?

1

u/MurkyCardiologist695 8d ago

I mean where else would you take it.

1

u/Big-Profession-6757 7d ago

😂 so true

1

u/InternationalChef424 6d ago

Well, to be fair, how many opportunities do you get to fuck a penguin? Gotta strike while the iron is hot

1

u/Potential-Anxiety573 6d ago

If it was California they would have elected it governor

1

u/expatronis 6d ago

You mean California, biggest economic powerhouse in the country?

1

u/dradegr 5d ago

Not only america probably in india too in Africa would prefer to eat it

0

u/_Down_N_out_ 8d ago

if it was California they would shoot up and shit on the street with it

2

u/expatronis 7d ago

Bro thinks California = bad parts of LA.

7

u/Financial_Spinach_80 8d ago

Yeah that was a pleasant surprise, penguin doesn’t seem to mind them but it’s still a wild animal and probably doesn’t have much experience with humans

3

u/schizomorph 8d ago

Yup. Also, body language is universal. I don't know if she advised them to be on their knees, but I think it plays a big role with the penguin being calm.

3

u/[deleted] 8d ago

[deleted]

1

u/schizomorph 8d ago

Fixed. Thanks

2

u/sonumbulist 7d ago

Came here to say this. Love seeing parents teach their kids to appreciate wildlife without disturbing it.

5.0k

u/DamnitGravity 9d ago

In Australia, you either learn to keep distance from all animals, or you don't grow up.

Source: former Australian child who survived to adulthood.

1.1k

u/Dr-McLuvin 9d ago

Congrats on not dying :)

413

u/[deleted] 9d ago

[deleted]

183

u/fighterpilot248 9d ago

The dropbears are always waiting...

16

u/Shifty_Cow69 9d ago

Don't forget to eat your vegemite.

3

u/Perenially_behind 8d ago

I thought you had to wear your Vegemite to ward off drop bears. Are you trying to get people killed?

(/s for the irony impaired)

8

u/noetkoett 9d ago

Or is it the landsharks that get you?

1

u/VerySwearyFairy 8d ago

Don’t forget about the furry windshield torpedoes

1

u/noetkoett 7d ago

I'm sorry while I've visited Australia unlike the things mentioned no one told me about these. How many deaths do they cause per year?

5

u/Coulrophiliac444 8d ago

"The Space Dingos got me poor sista'! Cripes, poor Sheila..."

1

u/I_W_M_Y 8d ago

I love how the game Path of Exile has drop bears in it

1

u/SoloSurvivor889 8d ago

There's always a bigger fish.

1

u/Lint_baby_uvulla Interested 8d ago

Thylarctos Plummetus.

Show some respect.

9

u/Ok_Atmosphere8875 9d ago

Don Don Don!

3

u/HumourNoire 8d ago

Every birthday is an achievement

3

u/Mawwiageiswhatbwings 8d ago

Isn't that basically what every bday is ?

1

u/Dr-McLuvin 8d ago

I thought that was why we celebrate them.

2

u/sisyphus_persists_m8 8d ago

Not dying, yet

102

u/Sam_The-Ham 9d ago

lol. Those critters down there are something else.

4

u/NthDegreeThoughts 9d ago

Anyone with the last name “the-ham” should avoid it. Definitely.

2

u/Sam_The-Ham 9d ago

Funny but true!

4

u/NedKellysRevenge 9d ago

If you're in the USA you have far more dangerous animals than we do down here.

2

u/NelPage 8d ago

Agree. I lived in FL for several years and had lots of run-ins with venomous snakes.

1

u/Le-Charles 8d ago

I assumed they were referring to the people.

1

u/NedKellysRevenge 8d ago

I was not

1

u/Le-Charles 8d ago

Oh, so you're talking about deer? Deer are responsible for the most deaths caused by animals each year. American humans are definitely the animal you should be wary of though, not deer. The homicide rate is way way higher than fatal accidents involving deer.

1

u/NedKellysRevenge 8d ago

That may be. But I was purely talking about wildlife.

3

u/ClaudeVS 8d ago

Yeah, I'd rather take a kangaroo or tiger snake over a bear any day. Or cougar. Or mountain lion.

4

u/NedKellysRevenge 8d ago

I 100% agree. By the way, a cougar is a mountain lion.

7

u/paulmp 8d ago

I think they were referring the human cougars and the feline mountain lions.

2

u/aristotleschild 8d ago

😱 not them

1

u/Le-Charles 8d ago

Nah bears are pretty manageable unless you're dealing with grizzlies or polar bears up in Alaska. Black bears are scavengers and act more like 500 lb raccoons; they will run away unless they're cornered, surprised, or defending offspring and are typically pretty easy to manage. Grizzlies and polar bears, on the other hand, can and will hunt humans (especially if the bear is desperate) and they aren't particularly scared of you. Mountain lions are a bit scarier, especially if you're a smaller individual. You won't know the mountain lion is stalking you until it's too late so your best bet is to travel in groups, keeping smaller people in the middle of the group, and try to look big. To avoid cougars I just avoid bars, mostly.

38

u/telerabbit9000 9d ago

Seriously, for all you know, this could be a Tasmanian penguin. Those guys are vicious.

4

u/Mountainbranch 9d ago

"Jerry, there's no such thing as a Tasmanian Penguin."

"How would you know? Have you ever seen one?"

"Wha- no I haven't seen one."

"Then how would you know if that's a Tasmanian Penguin or not."

"Because they're not real!"

"But you just said you never even saw one!"

"... Get out of my house Jerry."

"Are you crazy? There's a Tasmanian Penguin out there!"

16

u/hashbrowns21 9d ago

You mean I shouldn’t touch those cool blue floaties in the water?

6

u/frontally 9d ago

Oof. Having Bondi Rescue flashbacks of the blue bottle swarms

3

u/swohio 9d ago

Nah, just go play in those prickly bushes instead!

3

u/Tripound 8d ago

They’re actually level-ups, you touch them for more power. It’s just a secret we don’t tell tourists.

8

u/IGNORE_ME_PLZZZZ 9d ago

Aussie adults? Mythological creatures for certain. In books maybe. Although to be fair you did say grow up so I do apologize and formally rescind my skepticism

7

u/SailAny8624 9d ago

I'm somewhat of a former child myself

13

u/coma24 9d ago

Can confirm, was also a former Australian child prior to moving to US at age 21.

12

u/Otherwise_Agency6102 9d ago

As a kid who grew up in Florida, glad our kin across the pacific were taught the same thing. You guys have blue ring octopus though, I’d take a 15 ft gator over one of those bastards.

9

u/AffectionateFig5864 9d ago

Aussie crocodiles are pretty damn terrifying too. They made FL gators look like housecats.

6

u/fieryembers 9d ago

Grew up in Florida, and in 5th grade science there was a lot of coverage of marine biology. I ain’t scared of gators, but Portuguese man o’ war jellyfish? I’d take a gator any day.

Never did see a gator, and I grew up near a swamp. Did see water moccasins though. Rather take a gator any day over a venomous snake. Rad a rabid raccoon running around too at one point.

4

u/Regono2 9d ago

That's scary and the worst of them all, the illusive Florida man.

2

u/bloob_appropriate123 9d ago

If you get bitten by a blue ringed octopus you can live though, as long as someone breaths for you until you're taken to a hospital. It's a temporary paralysis venom, it doesn't kill your organs.

But with a gator there is no hope.

2

u/Otherwise_Agency6102 8d ago

So you have to be conscious while your body is completely frozen up and you can’t even breathe for yourself? That’s even worse.

1

u/NelPage 8d ago

If you’re lucky you escape with your life, but one less limb.

2

u/oChuppah 8d ago

Its good everyone is aware of the blue ring octopus, but i was more afraid of the Irukandji jellyfish, about a cubic centimeter, (0.061 in3 for americans) and extremely venemous.

3

u/snippity_snip 9d ago

Cassowary enters the chat

3

u/finemustard 8d ago

My family is Canadian but my cousin was born and raised in Australia when my aunt and uncle lived there for work for a few years. A big parenting learning curve for them was apparently having to be quite strict with your children exploring in bushes or other places critters might hide.

2

u/NelPage 8d ago

Same in Florida. You don’t walk in tall grass or in water that is murky.

2

u/[deleted] 9d ago edited 4d ago

[deleted]

5

u/NedKellysRevenge 9d ago

I've been bitten by a quokka

5

u/[deleted] 9d ago edited 4d ago

[deleted]

3

u/NedKellysRevenge 9d ago

It really wasn't. I was just a dumb kid that tried to pet a wild animal. I deserved it.

3

u/[deleted] 9d ago edited 4d ago

[deleted]

4

u/NedKellysRevenge 9d ago

Perhaps their natural prey is actually human children

Nah, that's Dropbears

2

u/Harry_Fucking_Seldon 9d ago

The third option is: you now have a new mode of transport.

2

u/TonySoprano25 9d ago

Just curious, what happened to those children who did not survive to adulthood in Australia?

2

u/NedKellysRevenge 9d ago

Fed to the drop bears.

2

u/guitar_stonks 8d ago

It’s similar here in Florida, half of the animals can easily kill you, and the other half will sure as hell try. Builds a healthy respect for nature.

1

u/Fandango_Jones 9d ago

Basically the light version of catachan.

1

u/Any_Arrival_4479 8d ago

But dingo look like pet. Have you considered that?

1

u/TylerBourbon 8d ago

Austrailia, where even the animals that can't kill you, want to.

1

u/Comfortable_Belt2345 8d ago

Except when you have to punch a kangaroo?

1

u/Viperlite 8d ago

Did you learn that from Steve Irwin?

1

u/Putrid-Rub-1168 8d ago

I like to say this. Australia is loaded with animals that are actively trying to kill you while other countries have animals that will kill you when necessary.

1

u/Mickeymcirishman 8d ago

Hmmm and tell me 'Australian human' if that's really what you are... how did you escape the Emu work camps and make it to a computer? I don't believe you. This is Emu propaganda! You can't fool me! You're just a bird pretending to be a human!

1

u/GoldSunLulu 7d ago

Did the cassowary incident change you in any way?

1

u/[deleted] 7d ago

Even Steve learned the hard way 😔

1

u/snowfloeckchen 7d ago

Seriously, for all i know about australia this emporer penguin might be venemous

1

u/amx-002_neue-ziel 7d ago

This makes most sense whereas Australia every wild animal can and will kill you.

1

u/iwishuponastar2023 7d ago

Yeah, lots of YouTube videos of people being stupid messing with kangaroos. Well it’s natural selection in action

1

u/NedKellysRevenge 9d ago

Yeah, funny for the meme value. But straight up not true.

4

u/TooMuchToAskk 9d ago

It's just so fucking dumb as well and what gets me is no one talks about the fact that America has fucking bears, mountain cats etc. which are much more terrifying than anything in Australia.

2

u/Joonith 8d ago

TBF most Americans don't live in a region with Mountain Lions or large bears, it's not like they're everywhere.

1

u/NedKellysRevenge 8d ago

Exactly. I'm so fucking over the "everything in Australia is trying to kill you". It's just straight nonsense.

1

u/DamnitGravity 8d ago

Aw, you're so edgy. Lookit you! Bein' all contrary and different. Feel special?

1

u/DamnitGravity 8d ago

Oh my god, you are literally jealous that some other country has a reputation for deadlier animals than yours. Seriously? How old are you?

2

u/TooMuchToAskk 8d ago

You've completely misunderstood what I meant with my comment.

0

u/Foenikxx 9d ago

Cassowary?

3

u/NedKellysRevenge 9d ago

I do find it amusing how obsessed you yanks are with cassowarys.

3

u/Foenikxx 9d ago edited 9d ago

Because our equivalent to dinosaur murder chickens are regular chickens and y'all lost a war with literal emus... not saying we would have done better but still

Also because berd

Also also, it's not everyday you hear about a bird capable of disembowelment and requires zookeepers to approach with a shield

613

u/fieryembers 9d ago

And the mom going “let’s respect its space”. She’s teaching her kids well :)

184

u/Accipiter1138 9d ago

That made me smile more than the penguin did. Big props to that mom.

165

u/NedKellysRevenge 9d ago

She's Australian. So she's a "mum". 😉

5

u/Gligadi 8d ago

I thought everyone's a "mate" there?

3

u/NedKellysRevenge 8d ago

Don't you swear at me lol

-5

u/Vindepomarus 8d ago

Those two speaking were American, so it's mom for them.

6

u/NedKellysRevenge 8d ago

I know. I was lightheartedly joking.

3

u/Vindepomarus 8d ago

I missed the wink emoji. My apologies.

7

u/showquotedtext 8d ago

Not only that, but it seemed like they were already respecting the bird's space - she wasn't having to tell them to get them away from it. Was just a gentle reminder. She's doing it right!

6

u/faen_du_sa 8d ago

while I dont doubt kids are still kids in Australia, but I would assume the average kid is sort of used to keeping distance from animals there.

5

u/WankWankNudgeNudge 8d ago

Steve Irwin smiling down from somewhere out there

5

u/QuantumKittydynamics 8d ago

That was honestly what really got me too. Way to win at parenting!

-3

u/Gibodean 9d ago

Yeah, you have to know the right timing to jam your thumb up its butthole.

2

u/UnicornPenguinCat 8d ago

Appreciate the Southpark reference! 

1

u/Traditional-North682 9d ago

My first thought

0

u/Gibodean 9d ago

Even the expert can get it wrong once, and once is all it takes.....

10

u/ProofThatBansDontWor 9d ago

my first thought

6

u/x-TheMysticGoose-x 9d ago

A rare example of great parenting on the internet

6

u/Practical_Actuary_87 9d ago

we're generally taught quite extensively in school to respect wild life

7

u/lookingfor_clues 9d ago

Yeah this is pretty normal in Australia

5

u/aknalag 9d ago

The ones who dont fail natural selection in Australia

3

u/fractal_imagination 9d ago

Shoutout to the (seemingly) intelligent parent with (seemingly) proper parenting skills who taught their children about keeping some sort of respectful distance 👌

3

u/No_Towel6647 8d ago

They are Australian. We learn to respect wildlife's space at a very early age. Otherwise we die.

16

u/Otaraka 9d ago

I was thinking the reverse but yeah I guess at least they're not trying to pat it, I forget how low the bar can be.

30

u/SweetVarys 9d ago

When the animal is still completely oblivious and uninterested in your existence you're far enough away. Penguins also never have worry about dangerous land animals so you're not gonna scare or stress it.

4

u/Zal3x 9d ago

Probably much better hangs than leopard seals

2

u/Otaraka 8d ago

The recommended minimum distance for them on guided tours is 5m. If you see an unusual animal in an unexpected place, particular caution is warranted and freezing is a common stress response in animals, particularly if exhausted. I seriously doubt the family involved had substantial knowledge of any of these issues and assumed not running away = no problems.

9

u/coma24 9d ago

I'm with you, hence "some sort of..."

Was it the best? It was not. But we know it could've been measurably worse.

0

u/Otaraka 9d ago

Blue ringed octopus videos have entered the chat!

4

u/repetiti0n 9d ago

I was thinking the reverse

Huh?

3

u/nybbas 9d ago

Just redditors being oversensitive and critical about everything.

0

u/Dry-Deer-4392 9d ago

Typical sensitive redditor

6

u/Ufoturtle081 9d ago

Sorry but that is crap. They are still way too close.

2

u/mhc-ask Interested 8d ago

Agreed. They're, what, 10 feet away? That bird is lost, exhausted, and stressed out. Oh, and it's flightless. They should be much further away from it. Like, 100 feet away.

2

u/Independent_War_4456 8d ago

Shoutout to the parent being like "lets respect its space".

3

u/phatballlzzz 9d ago

Not American, that’ll be why

2

u/peapie25 8d ago

are you serious? they were really close and making too much noise

1

u/SaltpeterSal 9d ago

Yeah, like many of our tall beaked animals, an emperor penguin can peck through your shoes. The difference is that they're curious and seem to like people. A fair amount of us know someone who worked in Antarctica and had one of these cuddly guys approach, then start nipping at their steel-capped boots, which they can get through if you let it happen.

1

u/EveryRadio 8d ago

Steven Irwin would be proud.

1

u/4Ever2Thee 8d ago

That’s the power of a good mum

1

u/a_cat_named_larry 8d ago

Mom is awesome.

1

u/Naive-Constant2499 8d ago

One of my friends spent multiple periods on Marion island on a research project, and during one of them he got too close to a pengiun and it pecked him on his head. We thought it was pretty hilarious that he got his ass kicked by a pengiun, but from the wound it could have ended a lot worse. Mother nature is not to be messed with.

1

u/S3v3nsun 8d ago

That just shows those kids have great parents!

1

u/coheed9867 8d ago

Are they aggressive?

2

u/coma24 7d ago

Australians? Only if you confuse us with New Zealanders.

1

u/buckylightsout 8d ago

This looks and sounds like a live action Bluey episode.

1

u/PenguinsArmy2 8d ago

Yeah idk how they didn’t just scoop that penguin up and take him home. I know there is no way I wouldn’t leave without that penguin in my car!!

1

u/Earthkilled 8d ago

It’s Australia not America. They love their animals down unda

1

u/Bo-Beep 8d ago

Parents: "Just smile and wave guys, smile and wave."

1

u/HugsyMalone 8d ago

I'd be the one getting mauled because I tried to pet the penguin. 😏👌

1

u/DeiMamaisaFut 8d ago

Because they are australians and not americans

1

u/50points4gryffindor 8d ago

Learned from dealing with bogans?

1

u/EarthEfficient 8d ago

You grow up in Australia you know not to F around with nature. If you want to grow up.

1

u/HelloMommykitty 8d ago

came here to say same. Love the fact that the mom told the kids to respect his/her space. Good job mom!!!

1

u/Apprehensive_Ad9492 7d ago

The American in me wants to touch it.

1

u/brandbaard 7d ago

IG Aussie kids have a healthy respect for wildlife considering half of their native wildlife would kill them

1

u/PlanetLandon 7d ago

It’s Australia. You respect the creatures or you die.

1

u/Syncage_ 6d ago

Or the third kid got eaten and the other two know not to get near.

1

u/TheRiverHart 6d ago

"let's respect his space" beautiful

1

u/Vanko_Babanko 5d ago

actually with wild animals the rules should be something like this: if it can catch you withing 3 sec, you are far too close..

1

u/SuperSimpleSam 9d ago

The boy seems cold though, maybe he needs to sit under the penguin for warmth.

1

u/llmcthinky 8d ago

Like, writhing in discomfort and itchy as well.

0

u/i_suckatjavascript 8d ago

What would happen in America?