Image of Penguinologist Dr. Tom Hart captured by Twitter user @TheEmmelineMay

Do penguins have flippers or wings? Why do they waddle? Do they really mate for life? What’s up with pebble gifts? Are they squishy or dense? And why why why are they so cute? April 25th is World Penguin Day and there’s never been a better time to sit down with renown Penguinologist Dr. Tom Hart, a research fellow with Oxford University. We chat all about life on Antarctica, how he counts colonies, how you can help him count colonies, what penguins smell like, behaviors he’s witnessed, and why he does NOT find penguins cute. Rather he sees them as stoic, badass, majestic and worthy of our respect. Also, which penguins are jackasses. Hint: it’s not jackass penguins. Dr. Hart is your new favorite penguinologist.

Listen on Stitcher, Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get podcasts.

transcript

bleeped episode

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Help count penguins -- for science! At PenguinWatch.org

Donations went to TRASS for mangrove planting and to PenguinWatch.org

Some links which may be of use:

Here is what penguins look like!

Dr. Hart’s papers:

High-coverage genomes to elucidate the evolution of penguins

Divergent trophic responses of sympatric penguin species to historic anthropogenic exploitation and recent climate change

Flim-flam: toppling penguins