Do gentoo penguins mate for life?

Gentoo penguins are not threatened with extinction, but they are listed as vulnerable by the IUCN. The main threats to the gentoo community are habitat loss and encroachment. Tourism, fishing and oil exploration are close to their habitats, affecting their ability to reproduce and find food.

In the Falkland Islands, June marks the beginning of one of the most unique mating rituals in the animal kingdom. It is winter in the northern hemisphere, and as the ice around Antarctica begins to melt, gentoo penguins emerge from the water they have been feeding on all winter. Not only will they have babies, but they will also find a mate for life. Young male gentoos, who are around one to two years old, prove their suitability to a female with a gift: a stone, perfectly shiny from the seashore. Males must make sure that the female they give the stone to is the only one they have. In fact, in Gentoo tradition, unfaithful people were punished by being banished from the land. If a woman was affected, she also received a stone, and they would go back and forth to get the perfect arrangement of stones until they could build a nest. A home to start a family.

The Gentoo penguin is the third largest penguin, standing about 2.5 feet tall and weighing about 12 pounds. They stood out among the white snow and native rocks with their bright white tails, coral-colored legs, and the rapid beat of their bowed heads as they gave their powerful trumpet call. Gentoo was an Anglo-Indian term that distinguished Hindus from Muslims, and some believe that the distinctive white stripe on the animal's head resembles a white spot. Others say that the name comes from the Spanish Juanito, or "Johnny." Regardless of the title, these birds are the fastest swimmers underwater of any penguin, reaching speeds of up to 22 miles per hour. Primarily predators, gentoos sometimes use their speed to catch fish, and have been reported to dive up to 450 times a day. However, this mat is also used to build that perfect rock formation.

When a pair has completed their planning, the pile of rocks can be about 8 inches long and 10 inches wide. The shelter lasts for weeks, is equipped to accommodate melting snow, and is very well maintained. A careless nestling can steal or take the best rocks, leading to constant squabbles between neighbors within the colony.