The scene was “Happy Feet” meet “The Great Escape.”
A fast gentoo penguin in Antarctica escaped the jaws of multiple whales by jumping on a boat full of tourists.
Daily Mail reports that the chase originated in the Gerlache Strait on the mainland. The whale pod chased the poor penguin, who, though flightless, managed to throw himself first to the side of a rubber boat full of human spectators.
Initially, the penguin hit the side of the boat, without holding the landing, and fell back into the waves. But luckily the second time was the charm, because with the next jump the penguin – with a little help from the cheering tourists on the boat – was able to make it safely on board.
“It was crazy to see in person,” travel blogger Matt Karsten told the Daily Mail. ‘It was like watching a National Geographic episode on location. I think the penguin was very relieved to get away. ”
Although the penguin must have been relieved indeed, the tourists must have been a little nervous about the prospect of a whole bunch of orca whales turning their little rubber boat over to get their penguin refugee.
Fortunately, however, the pod left in peace.
“The orcas followed the zodiac boat for a while,” Karsten continues. ‘Eventually they gave up and left the penguin safely with his new friends.
“After a bit of sailing, the penguin said goodbye to the boat and jumped back into the icy water.”
Hopefully the penguin avoids swimming in Gerlache Street to prevent another possible chase from now on.