petting penguins

[pinguino]

I'm looking for cruise destinations in South America (or drivers to hire, etc) who will take me to places where I can actually pet or play with penguins. I'm afraid that a lot of the more touristy areas wouldn't be cool with it and that I'd be watching them from a distance or just not be allowed to touch.

 

Cartoon penguins are a really big part of my life, so I really want to hang out with some in person :)

 

I spent some time at the Edinburgh Zoo and got to pet some rockhoppers, and it was awesome. Got nipped by an Emperor too :) Sat and sketched them for hours.

[dileep]

You will walk amongst ***** penguins at the Punta Tombo Reserve outside Puerto Madryn. They ask you not to touch the penguins though!

[pinguino]

You will walk amongst ***** penguins at the Punta Tombo Reserve outside Puerto Madryn. They ask you not to touch the penguins though!

 

what happens if you dont listen to them? ;)

[pinguino]

dileep- btw liked your penguin pics =) massively cute

[Meribeth]

what happens if you dont listen to them? ;)

 

Hopefully they arrest you!

[Host CMLA]

what happens if you dont listen to them? ;)

They may escort you out; they may arrest you; they may detain you because you can pick up diseases, etc from the animals; they could do all sorts of things. Not sure I'd play fast and loose like that while on vacation in another country. And I don't think I'd purposefully break their rules when I know better. In my opinion, it's disrespectful to do something just because you want to when someone has asked you not to. Especially when you don't know the reasons why they have their rules. If they don't want you to touch the penguins, there are reasons.

 

I hope you're able to find a petting zoo or something for the penguins.

[Aussie Gal]

I am positive that penguins would nearly die of fright if a human suddenly started to pet them. Why do something like that to a wild animal? They are not pets.

 

We have spent time in the Galapagos Islands and the wildlife think of us as other wildlife but there is no way that we were allowed to touch any of the birds, sea lions, penguins etc. even though we were within inches of them. You would have been removed from the island.

 

Also you do not know what diseases they are carrying.

 

Jennie

[2greyhounds]

Hi everyone, I really felt that I must respond on this. When we went to Antarctica last year (driven my need and love of penguins) I was deeply hoping that I could pet the penguins - once there, seeing them in their own environment and seeing how it is all about survival, I just couldn't bring myself to pet them, could I ? oh sure, we were that close all the time, but in good conscience I truly couldn't 'taint' them with my human germs etc. Please don't pet them, give them a fair chance - then they will be around for all to enjoy.....Heather

[johnql]

I agree with everyone who says, please don't pet the penguins. As with almost any wild animal, having a human's scent on them could very well disrupt their interaction with other penguins. As others have said, there are probably plenty of other reasons, too, besides the fact that you're asked not to.

[cadcruiser]

If you stand still you may be approached by a penguin. This happened to me in Punta Tombo. I stood still to have a picture taken of me with a nearby penguin. The penguin softly pecked at my leg a few times. It was quite entertaining.

[pinguino]

If you stand still you may be approached by a penguin. This happened to me in Punta Tombo. I stood still to have a picture taken of me with a nearby penguin. The penguin softly pecked at my leg a few times. It was quite entertaining.

 

oh awesome :)

[Host CMLA]

If you stand still you may be approached by a penguin. This happened to me in Punta Tombo. I stood still to have a picture taken of me with a nearby penguin. The penguin softly pecked at my leg a few times. It was quite entertaining.

This happened to me too. In Punta Tombo I was approached by a penguin that pecked at my shoe laces then grabbed my shoe lace in his beak. I squatted down to get a close up picture and it pecked my knee. I can read so I didn't touch the penguins. The penguins, on the other hand, don't follow the same rules. :p

[Bookish Angel]

They live in sensitive eco-systems and should not be exposed to human handling. Look at them, laugh at their antics and love 'em, but respect them with a hands-off experience.

 

Two beautiful brown bears had to be euthanized here in Richmond, VA because human parents did not control their child who somehow got through two fences to "pet" a bear and one of the bears allegedly bit the child so both bears were killed needlessly. Neither bear had rabies but the park could not take the chance that they did.

 

Please be a sensitive traveler and follow the rules; you'll still have a great time and no animals will be put at risk.