The best dads – emperor penguins

These ultimate dads are the only animals to breed in the Antarctic winter. This is no small feet when the temperatures routinely drop between -31 degrees Fahrenheit. To top it all off, this sensitive male takes full responsibility for the couple’s one and only egg. He refuses to leave until the egg hatches into a healthy chick. He is of course, the largest penguin on earth, the emperor penguin.

One way to beat the icy temperatures and the polar winds is too huddle together and share body warmth. Another way is fat: a chubby dad is a healthy dad in the South Pole. Penguins need every ounce of fat to protect themselves from the unforgiving climate. Dad’s body serves him well, especially in the water. These guys know how to fish, they can dive up to 820 feet deep, as they hunt for fish, squid, and krill. They can also swim about 15 miles per hour. This is four times faster than the speediest human swimmer.

Unfortunately, a penguins body is not as graceful on land. Maybe this is why they prefer sliding around on land. He may look goofy, but the emperor penguin dad is the perfect gentleman. This sensitive male is an expert at co-parenting. And this dad goes the extra mile to give mom a break. Mom may lay the egg but its dad who hatches it. He tucks the tiny egg under his feather covered skin where it will stay snug and warm. For two months he will eat absolutely nothing and lose nearly half of his body weight. Once the hardest work is over, mom returns to give dad some relief.

She will tuck the chick into her pouch to keep the chick warm, while dad heads for the open water to break his fast and feed on the fish. However, this sensitive male still does not head out with the boys for his share of the fun. Instead, he returns to his family and shares the burden. Mom and dad take turns keeping their baby warm and well fed until he is big enough to brave the cold. It’s a high stakes game, relying on a single egg to pas on your genes. This ultimate dads parenting skills pay off, a record setting 50% of emperor chicks make it to adulthood, which is no small feet in the harshest climate on earth.