How does a penguin launch itself from the sea? - The Wonder of Animals | BBC

Subscribe and 🔔 to the BBC 👉 bit.ly/BBCKZbinSub
Watch the BBC first on iPlayer 👉 bbc.in/iPlayer-Home How does a bird, the same weight as a baby hippo, get itself out of the water?
Chris explores details of the penguin's anatomy, using new scientific research to reveal how its legs, wings and body shape have allowed it to conquer an extraordinary range of habitats, from deep forests to tropical waters, bustling cities and even the toughest place on the planet - Antarctica.
At first sight, penguins seem ill-suited to their environment - rotund abdomens, stubby little legs and stiff wings appear to make the going tough. But in fact it is these very traits that enable this bird to thrive.
The Wonder of Animals | Episode 1: Penguins | BBC
#TheWonderofAnimals #BBCiPlayer #BBC
All our TV channels and S4C are available to watch live through BBC iPlayer, although some programmes may not be available to stream online due to rights. If you would like to read more on what types of programmes are available to watch live, check the 'Are all programmes that are broadcast available on BBC iPlayer?' FAQ 👉 bbc.in/2m8ks6v.

[@miafine2584]

Penguins are so majestic underwater, and then on the ice they are wobbly, gorgeous little dumplings!

[@seblatkovic5245]

55t a

[@grytlappar]

They're so surprisingly fast under water, they're like torpedos!!

[@lmoral222]

I wonder how they taste

[@donparker5349]

@@lmoral222 They taste like snow and fish. You thought they tasted like marshmallows, didn't you? *Note:* This is obviously a joke. Please don't get offended.

[@bearmugs1408]

such a perfect way to sum a penguin up! "dumplings"

[@WSOJ3]

The moment you realized the penguins were using supersonic torpedo technology to launch themselves out of the water..

[@Strong70]

Hahaha

[@bigblue207]

I’m gonna be that guy but supersonic isn’t a thing underwater, water is an incompressible fluid

[@rgudduu]

@@bigblue207 , explain plz

[@bigblue207]

rgudduu so basically it has to do with the density of a fluid. Air and water are obviously both fluids and the technical definition of a fluid has to do with the fact that it deforms under a shear force or something, but that doesn’t really matter here. What matters is that water can’t change its density because of the chemical bonds being too strong or something. Air on the other hand, if you go fast enough, actually can change its density which results in effects like the shock wave and this is called compressible flow. I think the regime for compressible flow starts around 0.3 Mach. Engineers really just care about compressible flow because it changes the assumptions you can make about the flow but the bottom line is it’s way easier to break the sound barrier in water than air because the density of air changes when you go fast

[@rgudduu]

@@bigblue207 , you meant "easier in air than water", no?

[@Enthralpy]

4:20 Cool penguins don't look at other penguins being cool.

[@MrMiD.Life.Crisis]

That made my day. As he turns im picturing him saying; "Yo...dont spoil my close up".

[@londreslocacoesevendasdeim2783]

That's a freezing cool bird.

[@dyscea]

😂😂😂😂

[@spermchef2731]

Nice

[@sheikhu1039]

He's like, meh I can do that 😂

[@bingesquad1]

3:52One penguin be like “Nope I need more speed!” *takes left turn*

[@yunona0816]

the imagery is absolutely beautiful

[@littlegiant4338]

All I can see is ice

[@eu0522]

4:02 Hair Commercials be like

[@crackingcards]

Lmaoooo

[@diutrinh1240]

Underrated comment lol

[@baharafghanzad5864]

😄😄😂

[@Hecena14]

My heart melted at 4:00 the cinematography is gorgeous with the background music

[@maskedmoth8328]

4:19 "SQAAAAUUGGHHHH"

[@criddlemonsta1]

🤣🤣🤣🤣 I don't even know why I'm laughing so hard at your comment.

[@HeavymetalHylian]

I was looking to see if someone pointed it out lol

[@TEXAS2459]

lol

[@LoveLondon5]

😂😂😂

[@mercytanchiying]

“This flightless bird finally becomes airborne” 😂😂

[@brownebonygoddess4469]

@Paulette and Ava HQ Right. So immature

[@peaelle42]

-inserts penguin cry in slow-mo-

[@lilkayta00]

The hype is phenomenal 😂

[@alaplaya5]

Dafuq?! How comes penguins learned about physics?!

[@silvercat18]

They eat fish and fish swim in schools!

[@onlybooks6757]

God taught them

[@mehere8821]

God taught them :)

[@namaloompakistani1768]

I want some atheist to answer this . I just want to laugh

[@MehrunesKar]

It is called evolution and adaptation

[@chad8707]

45 dislike.. they are must be leopard Seals.. really 😂😂 lol

[@danielhissi585]

Chandan Yadav and Killer whales

[@otto7848]

This is why I love penguins so much. They're one of the most interesting animals you can see.

[@NikoBellic04]

0:07 That penguin in tha backround is trying to yell us that the narrator is wrong.

[@bottlegang3187]

"How does a bird with a weight of a baby hippo get itself out of the water" Now I can't get the mental image of a baby hippo yeeting itself out of the water out of my head, thanks BBC.

[@pollyfoofoo8703]

4:19 “morning, joe” “Oh hi frank”

[@123numberwang]

“The more body fat, the more likely they are to survive the coming winter” Ooo, that’s a good excuse. I might start using that!

[@dave5194]

Who needs to pay for heating when you have nature’s insulation?

[@Xynic48]

I was just wondering why there were bubbles when they were swimming. I initially thought it's vacuum bubbles because they swim fast, but I soon realized that's absurd. There's no way they can swim that fast. Glad it was explained in the end.

[@melger2010]

Penguins

[@AA-on7vx]

2:30 rip penguin dude that went sideways

[@provpaw2]

lol

[@optimisticwhovian1726]

he didn't die he would've just tried again, there were too many penguins in his way so he aborted the launch.

[@MillenniumEarl014]

@@optimisticwhovian1726 Technical difficulties.

[@KHEDOofficial]

@@provpaw2 Not cleared for take off due to heavy wake turbulence.

[@PriyankaGupta-ew1li]

@@MillenniumEarl014 😂😂😂

[@LauRa-re9un]

Astonishing. Astonishing related, astonishing wxplained, astonishing mechanism of the penguins, astonishing their intelligence, astonishing filmation, astonishing beautiful penguins that shine in the sun and in the water. The last scene from 4:03 until the end with their normal way of talk is amazing. Thanks!

[@M1710]

Amazing close up footage as they leave the water and while airborne. Happy Penguin Awareness Day!

[@BklynPrototype]

Very impressive footage from the penguins. I would love a camera going to the depths with the penguins to see what type of fish they prefer or see the fish hunt.

[@KevinNguyen-hx4ii]

They're like freaking torpedoes

[@danmar007]

Nature: endlessly fascinating. BBC documentaries: endlessly spectacular.

[@Andrei-cp5jr]

Every day I learn about animals I realize many of them are a lot more intelligent than I thought. I think they are so intelligent to the point that they know what they are and that they exist. Like these penguins.

[@silverwolf6669]

That slow mo penguin scream at the end was hilarious 😂

[@kieraemerson9020]

It was the best 😂

[@verkaforever]

This series ROCKS!

[@user-hx2po3vq1i]

2:01 looks like ICBMS out of the submarine

[@pgai824]

it's 230 am and i'm bored af but this is crazy shit lol

[@sandhyasubba1758]

Paul Gainer 😂

[@michaelwestman3902]

Deadass 430 am here and I just searched penguins so I feel lmao

[@Ethan-lm1nm]

+Bug Nuts there better than you and they have a skillage unlike you. So sorry😁😁 oops😮not sorry

[@michaelwestman3902]

Ethan Fox what are you talking about you bum

[@annedwyer797]

Amazing research! Penguins are so beautifully designed to "fly" underwater. I couldn't help but chuckle when one guy collided with another and did a bit of an endo @ 1:12.

[@ricanyp]

lol noticed this too

[@lordrampage]

i want to be a penguin soon as possible!

[@imoved.4876]

lordrampage same

[@isakito1997]

please no. these animals must live free ♥

[@CJbrinkman602]

Swapnil Agnihotri *Sea lion

[@travisnelson9104]

Their lives are extremely tough

[@user-jq8qv4yx4h]

No, you don't. As an egg, you might get stolen by a sea gull in some places, as a chick, if you don't get eaten or orphaned and die from starvation or eaten by a predator bird, you might get eaten as an adult by an Orca or sea lion. If you don't get eaten, you might get maimed and injured by escaping those predators. Not an easy life at all.

[@morpheusmyron4206]

God, these animals are so extremely beautiful. In so much Awe!

[@markdowse3572]

What an utterly extraordinary adaptation! "Jet-powered penguins" !! :) :)

[@adarsh5870]

Penguins know physics better than me

[@jeffstrong4580]

It's just like super cavitating torpedo.

[@user-jg3yx8yu4l]

most beautiful filming i have literally ever seen

[@KozmikProduction]

Them being able to do this is just incredible. Nature is beautiful.

[@brownebonygoddess4469]

It made me cry when he said “ This flightless bird finally becomes airborne “.

[@clarenceudoma1683]

01:00 when they swim they look like they r flying

[@onbored9627]

They probably also are looking to see how tall the ice is so they know how fast and what angle they need to come up at.

[@muhammadalihassantur8012]

Their landing reminds me ANGRY BIRD game.

[@samuelkamochu6808]

What did he say? "This flightless bird, finally becomes airborne". Well, well, I'll take that for a parting shot.

[@neomt2]

Wonderfully presented and clearly narrated - well done! Attenborough worthy work!

[@kivitropikal6755]

I live in Istanbul/Turkey and today I visited aqua floria where there's penguins. I saw them swimming, they swim so fast and take maneuvers so fast

[@NeziesStories]

“A third of which is blubber-“ Me: *busts down the door* Okay who just called for me?

[@thuydoan775]

Hey penguin finally can fly

[@anniemadrono7999]

They're like rocket launch into the surface! 🚀 Amazing!!!

[@1LIKE_1HAIR]

They are like underwater missiles

[@coreymackereth7241]

What an amazing animal.

[@BB13B13BB]

How can penguins swim so fast with that massive body ? They're not even FISH 😂

[@Koraxus]

there were extinct avians even more adapted to water than pinguins. I think they were called hesperornithes or something.

[@Ashen-One1]

The information is mind-blowing and the cinematics plus music is beautiful. I almost feel a bit emotional, Idk why.

[@anshumanbharati9168]

This is wonderful.Great piece of work by team BBC and the way they explained is something brilliant.

[@hz6612]

I loved the last phrase you said

[@abcdefoff3307]

4:11 I believe I can flyyyy. I believe I can touch the skyyyy.

[@jocelynjimenez8073]

Omg!!!! Penguins are my favorite animal!!!🐧

[@philhewitt5069]

The unmistakeable ,CHRIS PACKUM .

[@acs812]

damnn... what a great moment you captured!!

[@ThePuci]

this was incredible and beautiful at the same time. majestic birds 💕

[@Dragon-Slay3r]

Birds was made to scream so the blue thobe holding books makes sense lol

[@harshvardhan4110]

2:00 looks like underwater missiles

[@deysilin4704]

4:20 the penguin be like "hey dude im being photographed how dare you ruin my moment" whahahsh

[@beverlyrhame3692]

They are beyond graceful in the water, oh to be able to swim and dive like that😍

[@Dannybythebanana]

They look like tiny torpedoes ♥️

[@standardannonymousguy]

Beautiful work!! Bravo!

[@MullahSpeaks]

beautiful scenery

[@taiki-kun7229]

This is unbelievable.. So amazing.

[@ahines8032]

underwater rocket launches with same concept. Nature's creation, brilliant

[@rgudduu]

Elaborate

[@MeTopics]

penguin at sea : i am speed

[@chrisp.9385]

Well i'm more likely to survive in the north pole Because i'm fat😂

[@rustinstardust2094]

Same. I want to slide on the ice on my own blubbery belly...it looks fun af!

[@billmiller4972]

Once I visited Osaka Aquarium and I wondered why the pengiuns were, well, emitting a trail of air fron the plumage of their back. I kinda hoped I'm the first to notice (yeah, stoopid I know). But still awesome to see someone not only noticed but took the time to do the research!

[@toddbob55]

i love penguins!!!

[@brenna5202]

That penguin looks so cute jumps out

[@tienho10]

this makes me way too happy ^^

[@mikesmith-uc4gx]

The air in their bodies creates a thrust effect...just like a ball underwater

[@empressatheism5146]

Penguins are so cute

[@countrycitymedia]

Amazing creations of an amazing creator.

[@grytlappar]

This blew me away. How fascinating! I wonder if they think it's fun. You know, like us humans do, it's fun to go really fast!

[@warnercomedia6221]

It looks like their flying out of water, flying penguins, the deeper they go, the higher they are aboveground!

[@jackhabben887]

4:09 Kowalski engage aerial surveillance

[@Bestillivoze]

This things are the prime splendor of existence.

[@thewalkingwanderer]

So amazing, thanks for sharing this :)

[@AverageThinking]

Someone explain at what point in the evolutionary process did this particular water bird develop this incredibly advanced and specific technique.

[@djninja2425]

Theres been many animals that have developed a lot of specific and impressive techniques.For example squirells they developed the technique to jump from any height well not any but they could jump from the empire state building and still live without injury,the way they do this is by spreading out their arma and legs so theu fall slower and then at the end retract their legs and arms and basically use them as spring,cats can do this too to some extent.I suggest you watch mark robers video on squirells he explained it much better. I mean bats have echo location,so do dolphins. And sharks have something similar.I mean theres spiders that make air bubbles using their webbing so they can go underwater.And theres lizards that can even run on water.

[@AverageThinking]

DJninja24 I am fully aware of all of this and it only further emphasizes my pointed question.

[@djninja2425]

@@AverageThinking Well its all just adaptation and evolution.Just like bats have developed echo location penguins have developed this.

[@AverageThinking]

DJninja24 right. But at what point? This is very complex and very specific. What conditions would cause this “adaptation” to occur? It makes no sense to me that a bird could suddenly cease its flying, take to swimming, and within a few thousand generations turn itself into a pneumatic cannon. It seems like too many mutations and skill acquisitions would have to happen simultaneously for such a transitioning creature to survive its awkward evolutionary progress.

[@djninja2425]

@@AverageThinking Well what can i say nature is sometimes weird.

[@sleeplesshead602]

Beautiful creature

[@dynamicdave2647]

Penguins seem so intelligent

[@pinkiwi]

Penguin is one my favurite bird

[@MrMiD.Life.Crisis]

3:40 - look man, chemtrails.... i knew it was those pesky penguins.

[@GCSalinas]

Watching this right b4 the chiefs-49ers superbowl...awesome video!! Learned alot

[@larisabosova4959]

Such amazing creatures! I love them ! Thank you for creation so interesting video.

[@aimarramadhan9729]

"I believe I can fly," says the penguin in 4:06. But sadly only within seconds in the air but they still fly underwater though like fishes.

[@speedygonzalez6054]

Amazing Penguin Migration An amazing look at a Penguin Migration by a recently discovered colony of penguins that is unlike any other penguin colony. These penguins are true snowbirds as they have decided to ditch the cold and ice of Antarctica and fly North to the tropical rainforests of South America. If you’d like to see a beautiful look at Emperor Penguins watch biggeekdad.com/2014/01/penguin-migration/

[@brantsimms6914]

Gods great ingenuity in creation😊

[@nurlyana3400]

it's really amazing how their body works...

[@malek_ibn_dinar]

سبحان الله الذي خلق فأبدع

[@ft20_arizkiwibowo58]

Penguin-powered Torpedoes seem legit

[@gregory5749]

penguins literally have built-in DRS. that's amazing

[@user-br2dq3bd2q]

What does 'pause through' means in this sentence? The trapped air in the plumage expands during their ascent and pause through the feathers

[@okinoboo4743]

Glory be to God how wonderful to watch them. Majestic huge birds. So fast!

[@neemapaxima6116]

Praise be to the Flying Spaghetti Monster who created these wonderful birds... Amen

[@MukWongDeso]

@@neemapaxima6116 Allah subhanahu wa taala created them.

[@aaronlangworthy3047]

@Truth Seeker One of a million examples of design. Humans just now discovering this, would for thousands of years before this point be unlikely to come up with a design like this themselves. Yet there are those who swallow the lie that some bird one day figured it out, having somehow also miraculously been granted the physical ability to do this through random gene mutation, and told its other bird friends and then they all copied him (at least those that also who happened to have the same genetic ability, and then their children where born with this knowledge-we don't know how but we call it instinct. Man aren't brainless protein strands smart/lucky. ;)

[@tigergirl305]

Yes! Amen! It's nice to see someone else praising God for penguins! :D

[@heidigroothuis611]

@@aaronlangworthy3047 That's exactly what I was thinking! I mean what's more believable, someone put though an craftsmanship into designing every complex living thing just like how any human artist/engineer would, or that everything came into existence from nothing, and that they somehow knew to genetically change THIS COMPLEXLY over a very long time span? Just think about it...

[@soupricemf1260]

The penguins is like a torpedo release from a submarine

[@gipadang9815]

They launch like missiles

[@paulwilson3434]

How wonderfully they are made

[@SnowbordrWRX]

this is glorious!

[@user-hk9gc1pg7s]

Could you upload just the scenes when the penguins start jumping up to the surface? I mean with no comment nor illustrations. I just wanna enjoy watching the scenes with slow motion!

[@phoenixflower1225]

and we thought we figured out physics first.