Penguins are one of the most adored animals in the world. They’re cute, cuddly, and unique. But, the thing is, we don’t have a lot of access to penguins, and most of what we know about them comes from popular movies, which can sometimes be a bit… well, misleading.
So, where do penguins mostly live?
Are There Actually Real Penguins in Madagascar?
No. There are no penguins in Madagascar, and yes, we don’t blame you if the movie aptly named “Madagascar” may have convinced you to search for this topic.
Unfortunately, penguins can’t actually fly airplanes to get there. As a matter of fact, they can’t actually fly at all (even though they are birds and have wings).
Penguins live most of their lives in water and in colder regions of the world, such as the southern hemisphere. There are species that live in warmer areas, but they aren’t found in Madagascar like in the movies.
What Kind of Penguins Are the Penguins of Madagascar?
Since we’ve established that there are no penguins actually living in Madagascar, then can we talk a little bit about the penguins from the movie itself? The penguins who were the show stealers of the film were actually an amalgamation of all penguin species.
That means that they weren’t necessarily patterned from one penguin species. Instead, they were a combination of what looks like king penguins, chinstrap penguins, and mostly the aggressive Adelie penguin, which makes some sense given their mischievous nature.
Their character design showcased different beaks, feet, and even mohawks that do not resemble a single penguin species found all over the world.
So, where do penguins usually live?
Penguins live mostly in the Southern hemisphere. Most people immediately think of Antarctica. This is because one of the most popular penguins of them all, the emperor penguin, along with a few other species, inhabit this cold region down south.
There are also penguins found in Africa, primarily in its southern regions, that harbor a lot of penguin colonies all over. Australia and New Zealand are also hot spots for penguins, with the latter claiming to be the penguin capital of the world.
They are even found in the southern part of the Americas, and yes, there are also tropical penguins like those who live in the Galapagos. The Galapagos are actually the only natural habitat of penguins up the equator. So, there are penguins who can get used to the slightly warmer climates, just not in Madagascar.
Why are there no penguins living in Madagascar then, you may ask?
Well, the weather in this region is just not as favorable for penguins to live in. It’s very warm in Madagascar, and while penguins do survive in warmer regions, they are primarily kept in zoos or ocean parks, where they are well taken care of.
Also, there might be land predators in Madagascar that threaten their existence.
Fun Fact: There has actually been a case of Southern Rockhopper Penguins ending up on the coasts of Madagascar. They were on their way to their breeding grounds and got lost as they were found by tour guides.
What Are the Names of the Penguins in Madagascar?
The penguins in the movie Madagascar were named Kowalski, Skipper, Rico, and Private.
Each had its own unique and quirky personality. They were actually so popular that they garnered their very own spin-off movie.
Final Thoughts
There are approximately 18 species of penguins globally, and none of them are found in Madagascar.
Nevertheless, the facts shouldn’t stop us from enjoying penguin movies like Madagascar, right?
Sources:
https://classroom.synonym.com/about-madagascar-penguins-12078371.html
