What Happens If You Pet a Penguin?

Even if a penguin waddles right up to you in Antarctica, you should never touch it. Photographers who actually work in Antarctica say that when they run into penguins, they stop immediately and stay still. Even if a penguin hops onto their face, they don’t push it away. You might think penguins are dangerous, but they’re not. Their feathers have a thin, oily layer that keeps them waterproof and warm; when people touch it, that layer can rub off, they lose body heat, and in the worst case, it can be life-threatening. But still, penguins aren’t afraid of people and will come over in a friendly way. That’s because in Antarctica, penguins are the only animals walking around on feet, so they sometimes mistake humans for one of their own.