'Secrets of the Penguins' NatGeo Doc Uncovers 'Astonishing' New Behavior

When you think of mysterious creatures, penguins probably don't come to mind. The cute, playful animals are the focus of countless films and TV shows, fictional and real-world, and a staple in zoos and aquariums. But it turns out we still have a lot to learn about them, as revealed in National Geographic's new docuseries Secrets of the Penguins. "As soon as we started filming, we started to see things that had never been filmed before," wildlife cinematographer and National Geographic Explorer Bertie Gregory told me over Zoom. "Before this project, I thought I knew penguins. I was so wrong." The three-episode series offers an intimate look at the lives of various penguin species and their struggle for survival on a rapidly changing planet. We watch them brave Antarctic storms, trek across deserts and even wander the streets of Cape Town. For the first time on camera, we see hopeful parents practice the delicate art of handing off an egg to one another using a ball of ice. We also obs ... Read full article.