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The ECHO rover (right) slowly travels back after surveying the Atka Bay emperor penguin colony in Antarctica. Céline Le Bohec; CNRS; CSM
Penguins reign supreme at the South Pole, where a single colony can number in the tens of thousands. Céline Le Bohec; CNRS; CSM
ECHO, seen on its maiden test drive in front of the German research base Neumayer Station III, is part of the Marine Animal Remote Sensing Lab to track penguins in Atka Bay.
Céline Le Bohec; CNRS; CSM
Céline Le Bohec; CNRS; CSM
The robot moves more slowly than a human can walk as it approaches the penguins so it doesn't frighten them. Aymeric Houstin
These three emperor penguin fledglings can be seen wearing their ARGOS dataloggers, which send back data on their movements. Céline Le Bohec; CNRS; CSM
The tape that researchers use to attach the ARGOS datalogger equipment to the penguin chicks doesn't damage their feathers. Daniel P. Zitterbart; WHOI; FAU
A 4-month-old emperor penguin chick is fed by its parent, just returned from a foraging trip in the sea. Céline Le Bohec; CNRS; CSM
Light from the midnight sun illuminates snowdrifts as evening falls on the Atka Bay emperor penguin colony. Daniel P. Zitterbart; WHOI; FAU
A lone penguin in the process of shedding its feathers can be seen in front of German research base Neumayer Station III, lit by the setting midnight sun. Céline Le Bohec; CNRS; CSM