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In 1984, a beach resort near Cape Town
in South Africa was invaded from the sea.

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The new comers had no fear of people 
and kept coming.

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Penguins.

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But where are they coming from and why?

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Sweating it out in the African sun may seem
a strange life for a creature of the icecaps,

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but in fact, of the world's 17 penguin species
more than half have never seen Antarctica.

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Here at Boulders Beach near Cape Town,
summer temperatures can top 40 degrees.

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But in this cold Atlantic water,
penguins have no problem staying cool.

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20 years ago, there were no penguins here.

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Today, as many as 3000 live and breed
alongside Boulders' human population.

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They're obviously not here
for the peace and quiet,

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so what is it that makes a penguin
want to share the beach with us?

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Until the 1980s, 
the African penguin had never settled 
anywhere on South African mainland,

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let alone at a busy beach resort.

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But one day a pioneer set foot on
Boulders Beach and liked what he saw.

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Today, he's one of thousands
living the beach bound life

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Millions of seabirds nest
along the rugged coastline of the Cape.

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But in these stormy seas, 
they need safe harbor.

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The offshore islands 
are their traditional haven

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and every year more than 100,000 
African penguins come back here to 
breed as they have done for centuries

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Dassen island lighthouse colony,
one of the biggest African penguin
breeding colonies in the world.

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At the start of every season,
couples return to the same mate
and nest site and get reacquainted.

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Most African penguins breed close
to the spot where they were hatched

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as their parents and 
grandparents before them.

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In fact they dig their burrows
in the legacy of all their ancestors

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the guano lair - 
droppings built up over centuries.

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A little spring cleaning is usually needed
and it's often worth adding a top-up.

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But other offshore colonies no longer
have the luxury of guano burrows.

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During the 19th century guano 
up to 10m deep was stripped away 
to be used as fertilizer.

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After this white gold rush,

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nesting birds are forced to make do with
different leftovers - old penguin bones.

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Back in town on Boulders Beach
another male pounds the pavement looking
for a site that will impress his mate.

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Like his island cousins,
he won't settle for just any old address.

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Most of Boulders' penguins nest
in the part around the beach,

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but some just can't resist the lure
of a more exclusive neighborhood.

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And as every discerning house hunter knows,
it's location, location, location.

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The problem here is that he's spoiled
for choice. It's definitely a buyer's market

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Once again, the male has done 
the leg work, but viewing by both 
partners is strongly recommended.

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Moving into town brings dangers,

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but some big advantages as well -
lush gardens with plenty of shade and color,

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properties that make an ideal family home.

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When morning comes, 
it's time to go to work.

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The garden nesters must negotiate
the rush hour to reach the beach.

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But they take every obstacle in their stride

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Here it may take longer to commute
to the sea than on the islands

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but the Boulders penguins
 obviously think it's worth it.

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Penguin partners share their duties 
on a rota system

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while one stays home to egg-sit,
the other joins the neighbors
for today's fishing expedition.

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The hunters form a raft as many
as 100 birds go out together.
Many eyes to watch for food and danger.

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They head out at a steady pace 
shallow diving for 20 seconds 
each time before coming up for air.

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By keeping their speed down
 to around 8kmph,

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they conserve the energy they'll need
for chasing fish or avoiding predators.

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Those left behind soon begin to overheat

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But eventually they need to move
into the shade and on Boulders Beach
there's no shortage of that.

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While the Dassen islanders
have burrows to help them keep cool,

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the penguins on the islands scraped bare 
of guano have no alternative but to bake.

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Compared to this, 
the Boulders nesters have it easy,
no need for their eggs and chicks to fry

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In fact, moving here is starting
to look like a clever idea.

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The Boulders penguins also
have a head start finding food.

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Commercial fishing boats are banned
around this part of the mainland,

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so natural hunters have the shoals
of anchovy all to themselves.

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Of course, there's competition from
other animals, including dusky dolphins.

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Farther out at sea beyond the islands
it's a different story.

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Although the anchovy shoals are bigger
the competition is greater.

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Giant nets reduce the penguin share
and also attract their worst nightmare
- Cape fur seals.

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But while the island penguins
may need to travel 100km a day,

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the Boulders birds can knock off early
if they find fish close to home.

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Bellies full, they return to their partners
and chicks to deliver the day's fast food.

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It's been another busy season.

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The Boulders colony has grown
from zero to 3000 in less than 20 years

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mainly because the first time breeders
from the islands emigrating here.

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It seems the new arrivals know
a good thing when they see it.

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Friendly natives, 
good food and accommodation

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no longer so easy to combine in
some traditional island colonies.

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And when the crowds get too much,
you can always leap off home.

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For the human residents,
the penguin's presence is a mixed blessing

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But there's no doubt the Boulders
 birds are reaping rewards from their 
 unconventional property speculation

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And they are not averse to feathering
their nests at our expense.

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Hey, that's mine.

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Well, we did steal their guano

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of course, not all African penguins
are so adaptable and not all need to be.

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But many traditional colonies are in decline

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Being flexible enough to move 
could save them.

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For the pioneering birds that
struck out for Boulders Beach

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it seems their risky investment
is bringing in a handsome reward.

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These Africa penguin at least is sitting
on some pretty hot property.

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Subtitles by Andrew and Hattie
www.mvgroup.org