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Although they’re best known for their fancy tuxedos and donkey-like braying, did you know that African penguins also have a secret superpower? Scientifically known as projectile defecation, these birds have the incredible ability to shoot their poop up to several feet away! It’s particularly helpful during nesting season because leaving the nest is not an option when duty calls. Instead, African penguins turn around and poop out the front door! Messy, but effective—as long as they’re mindful of their neighbors!
Historically, massive deposits of this guano provided the surprisingly perfect substrate for African penguin burrows. Eventually, humans caught wind and started harvesting this nitrogen-rich waste as fertilizer for crops, causing irreparable habitat destruction. Today, conservation organizations are working to protect wild populations and their breeding grounds around South Africa and Namibia – a reminder that we can all do better to mitigate our effects on the natural world.
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