Emperor Penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri)

Standing up to 100 cm and weighing up to 45 kg, emperor penguins are the largest of all the penguin species alive today. During their cold Antarctic winter breeding season, males take on the role of protecting the egg while females go out and search for food. After hatching, each parent takes turns keeping their chick warm against their brood pouch while the other retrieves the food. Collaboration by two parents is essential to the survival of emperor penguin chicks. Each breeding season, several chicks get abandoned. Female adults without mates will often try to adopt these abandoned chicks, but they have virtually never succeeded at feeding them alone. Alternatively, these females may also attempt to steal chicks from other parents, typically also without any success. When the chicks are big enough, they huddle together in groups known as crèches to keep warm instead of relying on their parents.