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 For
immediate release
17 September
2003
Lone Father Starves
For Months in Freezing Conditions While Raising Young
As politicians
and union officials debate the many facets of parental leave,
Australia's longest established tour operator to Antarctica, Adventure
Associates, reminds us of some exemplary behaviour already existing
in the natural kingdom.
The world's
largest penguin, the majestic Emperor of Antarctica, raises its
young on the hard sea-ice of Antarctica huddled together against
the biting winter winds. In a display of paternal instinct uncommon
in the animal world, this intensely arduous task is performed
by the Emperor males alone while the females stock up on food
for a spring-time return.
The annual
"Lords of Antarctica" expedition aboard the icebreaker
Kapitan Khlebnikov, offers adventurers the rare opportunity to
visit the Emperor Penguin colonies in the Ross Sea before the
fledglings leave for the open ocean.
Dr Kirsten
le Mar, a naturalist who has worked for several years on Adventure
Associates' voyages, has studied Emperors in great detail.
"The
male Emperor Penguin is virtually abandoned by the female after
the single egg is laid. He is left alone for the 70-day incubation
period during the dark and bitterly cold winter months, going
completely without food for this period, the male feeds the newly-hatched
chick with thin regurgitated "milk".
 "The
female, gorged with squid and fish, returns soon after the chick
has hatched and relieves the exhausted, emaciated male who must
now walk and “toboggan" over the one hundred kilometres
or so of frozen wasteland before he can reach the sea to feed.
This meal will be his first for about six months and the ordeal
is costly, leading to a higher mortality rate amongst the doting
fathers, than the females."
Adventure
Associates' LORDS
OF ANTARCTICA - EMPEROR PENGUIN ADVENTURE expedition departs
for the inner reaches of the Ross Sea, making a beeline for the
rich biological zones deep inside the Antarctic Circle. This 25
day adventure visits Emperor Penguin colonies at Cape Roget, Coulman
Island and Cape Washington. At Cape Adare adventurers may also
see the world's largest Adelie penguin colony, home to over 250,000
pairs of these endearing black and white birds.
Seals, whales
and numerous seabird species make up the balance of the zoological
checklist likely to be spotted throughout the journey and particularly
at locations like Cape Hallett, the Possession Islands, Terra
Nova Bay, Campbell Island and Enderby Island in the Auckland group.
LORDS OF ANTARCTICA departs Hobart, Tasmania and returns to Lyttelton,
New Zealand. Dates are 3 to 27 December 2003 - 25 days. Cruise
prices start from US$12,950 per person triple share. Intending
passengers should contact Adventure Associates on (Toll Free)
1800 222 141 or visit the website at www.adventureassociates.com.
For
further information or brochures please contact:
Stewart Campbell
Adventure Associates
197 Oxford Street (PO Box 612)
Bondi Junction NSW 2022
AUSTRALIA
Tel: (02) 9389 7466 TOLL FREE : 1 800 222 141
Email: Stewart_Campbell@adventureassociates.com
Tour
Web Link
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