Part 3/6:
The next phase of their courtship—the transfer of the egg—represents one of the most critical tests of their partnership. In just two weeks, this process must be executed flawlessly to ensure the survival of their offspring. Emperor penguins lay a single egg roughly the size of a grapefruit, and only once a year.
The male takes on the primary caregiving role during this period. After the female lays the egg, she carefully passes it to the male, who balances it on his feet, nestled within a specialized pocket called a brood pouch, to protect it from the freezing ice. This transfer might seem simple but is fraught with danger; if the egg remains exposed on the ice for more than around 60 seconds, the chick inside risks freezing to death.