Penguins are strange animals. Humans have always been fascinated by penguins, mainly because they always appear to be dressed in their dinner suits as they waddle around. The penguins that live here at the Bergen Aquarium are called gentoo penguins. We currently have six penguins, and Pingmar is the eldest. He is named after one of his forefathers, who became the subject of a popular children’s book.

Penguins live in colonies, and they like to swim and hunt fish in large groups. They can swim as fast as 30 km/h, and their thick feathers contain oil to keep the water out. As penguins live in cold regions, they have several layers of feathers to stop them getting too cold. In fact, penguins are one of the animals that can survive in the coldest climates. Penguins only live in the southern hemisphere, from the coasts of South-America and South-Africa right down far into Antarctica. And here at the Bergen Aquarium, of course.