The Penguin Who Travels 5000 Miles Every Year To Meet His Human Friend!

We have seen all kind of animals getting close to humans and creating special bonds with them. We have recently seen a duck who is the best friend of a little girl, a baby Koala who was very close to his foster family, crows who bring gifts to the girl who feeds them. This touching story shows us another animal who got very close with the human that rescued him: a penguin!

In 2011, retired bricklayer and part-time fisherman Joao Pereira de Souza, 71, found a South American Magellanic penguin covered in oil and starving on a beach on an island off the coast of Rio de Janeiro. Juao took the penguin home and nursed him until he become healthy.

Juao named the penguin Dindim. After 11 months of nursing Dindim was completely recovered and Joao released him into the wild. He didn’t expect to see him again. He had a huge surprise when he met Dindim again after a few months who even followed him home.

According to Globo TV, Dindim spends eight months with Joao and the rest of the year breeding off the coast of Argentina and Chile, 5.000 miles away!

“I love the penguin like he’s my own child and I believe the penguin loves me.” “No one else is allowed to touch him. He pecks them if they do. He lays on my lap, lets me give him showers, allows me to feed him sardines and to pick him up.” “He arrives in June and leaves to go home in February, and every year he becomes more affectionate as he appears even happier to see me.” said Joao. This penguin is amazing!