Dr Tom Hart, Penguinologist from the University of Oxford, tells us why penguins are so special and how their lives are under threat from humans.
He talks about how amazing penguins are, how they're able to withstand very cold temperatures and to swim to amazing depths.
They are an essential part of the ecosystem in Antarctica.
Dr Hart describes how the number of penguins on Antarctica is declining and that this is in part due to humans fishing the seas for the food penguins rely on.
This short film is from the BBC series, The Penguin Watchers.
Teacher Notes
Can your pupils help Tom on his quest to identify, and suggest ways to stop, the threats facing penguins?
This could form the start of a project for pupils to work on about penguins and the Antarctica, researching the impact climate change and fishing is having on them.
They could use the internet to find out facts or contact scientists to find out what could be done.
In small groups, pupils could look at how the penguin keeps warm, and how this is different to how they keep their own bodies warm in cold climates.
What problems may they have when it is very cold, do the penguins and other wildlife have issues with the cold?
Curriculum Notes
This short film will be relevant for teaching primary pupils about climate change or animals and their habitats at Key Stage 2 or Second Level.
