Part 1/7:
The Harrowing Journey of Growing Up in a Melting World
A Tiny Feat of Nature: The Molting Process
In the midst of the icy wilderness, a group of young penguins is undergoing a critical phase of their development. Their transformation begins with molting, a process in which their soft, gray, fluffy coats—essential for insulation on the freezing ice—are shed to make way for their sleek, adult feathers. While the fluffy down is excellent for conserving warmth on solid ice, it offers no protection against the water. As these chicks prepare for their inaugural swims, they must lose their fluffy insulation and grow waterproof feathers to survive in the wild aquatic environment.