Penguin Travels 5000 Miles Every Year To Reunite With The Man Who Saved His Life

Mar 06, 2019

A 73 aged animal lover, Joao Pereira de Souza, found a penguin that was struggling to catch its last breath on the beach in 2011. Joao’s humane instincts lead him to rescue the penguin and take care of him until he could regain his health.

Little did he know that his act of kindness would build a long-term relationship with the penguin.

Joao found the dying penguin in agonizing pain and starved state as he lied helplessly waiting for the cruel fangs of death. The penguin was also greased in black oil. Joao took an entire week to wipe the penguin clean off the black oil. Soon after the penguin was back to its feet, Joao released him back to nature.

Surprisingly, the penguin returned to the very stop he was saved by Joao after a year. Together they went home. Out of gratitude, the penguin visits Joao every year at the same spot, 5,000 miles away from his original home.

With time, Joao and the penguin became more than acquittances and were now buddies. He even named the South American Magellanic penguin, Dindim. The two nurtured their friendship and even spent eight months together before heading back to the coastal area of Chile and Argentina in time for breeding.

This peculiar friendship between man and penguin attracted media coverage in which Globob TV had an interview with the old man. Joao confessed to loving the penguin as his own child and believed that it was a mutual feeling.

He continued to state that the penguin had become so friendly around him that he allowed him to touch and feed him as he desired. He pecked other strangers if they tried what Joao had got used to doing. Joao extends his love through actions such as showering and cuddling the penguin.

The old man also dedicates himself to feeding Dindim daily on diets like fish that would help him recover fully. The penguin’s vacations with Joao are often scheduled every year on June and ends on February, marking eight months annually.

You will notice the penguin’s joy and excitement every time he sees Joao: he tags his tail and tootles to signal his happiness.

The 73-year-old Biologist, Joao Paulo Krajewski, derives so much pride in the special close bond between him and Dindim. He believes that penguin acts like that in its belief that Joao is part of his family.

This brings us to the final note of this piece. What do you think about this unique relationship? Let us know in the comments and pass this along to any animal lovers you know!