Stefan Christmann's Image

‘A few chicks started sticking their heads together,’ says Stefan, ‘and within minutes there was a fluff ball of about 50.’ One stuck its head up and broke the symmetry. Unlike the vast huddles of adult emperor penguins, mini huddles of youngsters are disorderly – taking it in turns to occupy the warm centre does not always come naturally.

By the time their chick is two months old, both parents must go hunting to bring back food. When they leave, the chicks arrange themselves into groups known as crèches. Snuggling together is important practice for later in life when they will form adult huddles and rotate in and out of the warm centre.