The popularity, plight and poop of penguins - Dyan deNapoli

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Penguins are odd birds. For one, they cannot fly (but they are amazing swimmers), and, contrary to popular belief, the majority of penguin populations live in warmer waters. But these beloved birds are in danger, with populations declining up to 90%. Dyan deNapoli explains the reasons behind the decline -- and why penguins are like the proverbial canary in the coal mine of our oceans.

Lesson by Dyan deNapoli, animation by Zedem Media.

Penguins have long captured

the imagination and hearts of people the world over.

But while popular culture

depicts them as clumsy, adorable birds

with endlessly abundant populations,

the truth is that penguins are exceedingly graceful,

often ornery,

and their populations are in rapid free-fall.

Their real life situation is far more precarious

than people think.

And if current trends do not think,

it may not be long

before penguins can only be found in movies.

There are many things about penguins

that make them odd birds, so to speak.

For one thing,

they are one of the few bird species

that cannot fly,

having evolved from flight-capable birds

about 60 million years ago.

Surprisingly, their closest living relative

is the albatross,

a bird known for its enormous wingspan

and extraordinary soaring abilities.

It may seem strange

that losing the ability to fly

would be an evolutionary advantage,

but the penguin's short, flipper-like wings

and solid bones

allow them to swim faster and dive deeper

than any other bird on Earth,

filling and ecological niche

that no other bird can.