
Incredible footage has been released today of hundreds of baby penguins being released into the water from a 20-metre-high block of ice in Antarctica.
The National Geographic Network documentary reported visiting Atka Bay on the Ekstrom Ice Block, where about 700 emperor penguins had gathered at the edge of the ice chasm.
To the amazement of reporters and staff, the little penguins began to jump from the height one after the other, crashing into the ocean water and then emerging unscathed.
"This spectacular moment has been witnessed before by researchers, but this is the first time that the amazing behavior is being filmed on television", commented the network in the documentary.
Antarctica is home to dozens of colonies of emperor penguins that breed and raise their chicks in the winter.
Every January when the chicks are about five months old they begin the process of learning and swimming as they shed their baby feathers and grow strong swim feathers.
Their swimming lessons take place without the presence of adults, but as a collective ritual of the colony's children.
"When they first enter the water they feel awkward and insecure, they are not fast or graceful swimmers like their parents", says the documentary.
Some penguin colonies raise their chicks at the height of the ice blocks so the young have to jump to reach the water in time.
Camera crews now use sophisticated filming equipment such as drones and powerful lenses, meaning they can follow the penguins without disturbing them.
Footage of the program titled "Secrets of the Penguins" is expected to be broadcast in April 2025./DailyMail