Keepin' it Cool in Japan

~A large area in the Ueno Zoo is devoted to penguins. There were many different species of penguins, some together, some in separate exhibits. Penguins are quite popular in Japan, their chief mascot being the lovable Pingu. There's also Bad Batz Maru, a naughty penguin by the same people that gave us Hello Kitty.

Because penguins have been one of my favorite animals ever since I wrote that report on penguin species in Mrs. Ezrol's 3rd Grade Class, I spent quite some time taking pictures of them. Here are my favorites:

^ A pool area set up for the penguins. They have little caves in the back to rest in, and a large pool of chilled water. The day was quite hot, and the area around the pool was much cooler than the rest of the zoo. This may have accounted for the large group of tourists idling nearby.

^ This African Penguin (?) demonstrates to us that cranes aren't the only animals that can perform amazing neck stunts.

^ This penguin was quite small, perhaps 1.5 feet tall. While the other penguins were frolicking in the water, he stood there, motionless, watching them. I think he's some kind of penguin lifeguard.

^ Is he hiding a smile?

^ A swimming Adelie Penguin. Note how it's completely black from this angle, while underneath it would be all white. This is a clever form of camouflage against the leopard seal, one of the chief predators of penguin. Penguins are native to Antarctica, which is covered in blindingly white ice. When they're in the water, they look like ice from below and are difficult to distinguish from the reflective water surface, while their black backs blend into the dark water when seen from above.

^ I'm not even sure if this bird is a penguin, but he was there with the rest of the penguins. He was quite the showman, and spent his time posing for the tourists.

^ A gregarious group of King Penguins behind a clear wall. They came right up to the glass and stared people in the eye. I guess there's really not much else to do. Notice how their eyes blend into their black head feathers; you can barely tell where the eyes are.

^ Standing behind the King Penguins was this Macaroni Penguin, named after the orange tuft of feathers on its head. Isn't that a great name? This penguin just stood there, looking a bit out of place amongst the other penguins. I think he was trying to be "cool" and aloof.

~There will be one more post on the Ueno Zoo, so keep your Internet bookmarks set to 'David Does Japan'.

Oyasumi!