Snow Hill Island in the Weddell Sea is one of the most remote places on earth, and a special place to witness Emperor penguins – the world’s largest penguin species. Visiting Emperor penguins in their natural breeding colony on Snow Hill Island was a miracle and the privilege of a lifetime.
Emperor Penguin Family Portraits, Snow Hill Island
Emperor penguins are devoted parents, taking turns incubating eggs and feeding chicks through the brutal Antarctic winter. These portraits capture that bond up close.
Emperor Penguin family portrait with the chick looking ever so guilty
Emperor penguin family portrait, but the chick is hungry and the parents are busy.
Finally, the Emperor Penguin family portrait is just right
Is the Emperor Penguin parent beaming with pride and affection at the chick?
The emperor penguin parent looks on lovingly at the goofy chick
What did the Emperor penguin chick tell their parent?
Emperor penguin parent and chick in loving conversation
Curiosity, Survival, and Play – Emperor Penguin Colony Life
Emperor penguins and their chicks are curious, playful, dedicated, and tender. Spending time among the colony revealed to us just how vivid and relatable Emperor penguin behaviour really is.
Cute Emperor penguin chicks goofing around. 1 in 10 eggs will make it past 1 year.
Emperor Penguins in animated conversation on Snow Hill Island
Emperor penguin colony on Snow Hill Island, and a helicopter overhead, transporting us to the makeshift landing site.
Emperor penguins inspecting humans as we arrive on Snow Hill Island
An Emperor penguin in deep thought
An Emperor penguin determined to find their chick, no matter how far they wander off.
Gliding on the belly is the fastest way to travel on ice - when going to and from feedings or searching for their chicks.
Emperor Penguins arrive on Snow Hill colony to feed their chicks.
Emperor penguin chick at play or ballet?
Who is inspecting whom?
Emperor Penguins are very curious about visitors.
Remains of a prematurely dead Emperor penguin chick
Emperor penguin feet look rugged and strong like reptiles.
Snow Hill Island – The Journey and the Landscape
Reaching Snow Hill Island is entirely at the mercy of Antarctic weather and sea ice conditions. But, reaching an Emperor penguin colony is only possible on a helicopter or miles of walking from an icebreaker ship on ice and Antarctic weather. The remoteness and inaccessibility are part of what make the Emperor penguin colony so extraordinary and so intact.
Nirmal and Jyoti arriving on Snow Hill Island, Antarctica
Visitors walking up the trail to the Emperor penguin colony on Snow Hill Island. A few penguins stop along the path to observe humans.
Snow Hill Island is covered in ice, and the fast ice extends for miles, providing breeding grounds for Emperor penguins.
Visiting Emperor penguins on Snow Hill Island, where the sun shines for 20+ hours a day in November
Emperor penguin colony on Snow Hill
Who is inspecting whom?
Emperor Penguins are very curious about visitors.
A ship equipped with an icebreaker parked near Snow Hill
