He traveled about 8000 km to return to the man who had saved him from certain death four years earlier. A penguin is the protagonist of this beautiful story of friendship and gratitude. The small specimen of Magellanic penguin crossed the sea to visit Joao Pereira de Souza, who had found it on a Brazilian beach and had taken care of it
It has traveled approx 8000 km to return to the man who had saved him from certain death four years earlier. He's a penguin the protagonist of this beautiful story of friendship and gratitude. The small specimen of Magellanic penguin crossed the sea to visit Joao Pereira de Souza, who had found it on one beachBrazilian and that he had taken care of him.
In 2011 Dindim - as the penguin was renamed - was found almost lifeless by 71-year-old Joao, a former fisherman who lives on an island not far from Rio de Janeiro. The man took care of the baby and offered him shelter until the penguin was able to resume its journey and return to its habitat.
For over a week, Pereira de Souza cleaned him of the tar he was wearing, fed him fish to regain his strength, and then took them back to the sea to help him find his way home 11 months after he was found on the beach.
In fact, Magellanic penguins usually live on the coasts of Patagonia, between Argentina and Chile. Despite the time and distances, Dindim he never forgot who took care of him. Thus, every year he faces a brave voyage, braving temperatures he is not used to in order to find his fisherman friend.
"I love the penguin as if it were my son and I think he too loves me in his own way", he said Pereira de Souza in an interview. "He doesn't allow anyone else to touch him, on the contrary, he catches them if they do."
But with him it's different. The penguin is looking for him, asking for attention, cuddles and food.
“Everyone said he wasn't coming back, but he has been visiting me for the past four years,” says the man. "Every year he becomes more affectionate, as if he is more and more happy to see me."
He biologo Joao Paulo Krajewski, who interviewed Mr. Pereira de Souza, told The Independent of never seen anything like it before. According to the expert, the penguin believes Joao to be part of his family.
A beautiful story of friendship, which overcomes differences and distances.
Francesca Mancuso
Gallery
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