John Downer

Its late spring. The emperors are growing up， having been born and raised in some of the most extreme conditions on Earth.

Since they were born two months ago， they have depended on their devoted parents for everything. With the frozen sea shrinking， each parent returns around once a week. They face the same problem—their chicks all look the same. The father checks the call—this ones an 1）imposter. Hes immediately hassled by more chicks， all trying to 2）cadge a meal. With over 2，000 chicks to inspect， checking them all could take a very long time. So he approaches each group in turn and tests who reacts to his call. A chick responds. He takes her clear of the huddle and completes further character checks. Its her tiny call that provides conclusive proof. She gets her just reward.

The emperor chicks introduction to water is a gradual affair. In places， the ice has melted into pools of 3）slush. Hes never met a surface he cant walk on. None of the chicks have ever swum before and it takes them all by surprise. This natural 4）paddling pool is the perfect chance to test out their 5）flippers for real. Swimming soon comes naturally. Although getting out is never as easy as getting in.

帝企鵝與水的接觸循序漸進。有些地方的冰融化成一灘一灘的雪泥小池塘。他之前從未見過無法行走的表面，所有的企鵝雛鳥從未嘗試過游泳。他們一開始都大吃一驚。這個天然形成的淺水池正是試用鰭狀肢的絕好機會。他們很快就本能地學會了游泳，然而上岸可不像下水那樣容易。

他們接著要面臨更大的挑戰(zhàn)，海燕飛回來了。小企鵝們聚集成圈，各就各位進行防御。雖然他們看著嬌小、可愛，但也有近一米高，即便是海燕也懼怕他們?nèi)?。離得最近的小企鵝挺直身板，讓自己顯得更高大，以保護身后的小伙伴。他的反抗為大伙兒爭取了時間，兩方開始對峙。突然，來了位意外的盟友——一只阿德利企鵝。海燕和這種超級強悍的動物打過交道。阿德利企鵝自信地站在小帝企鵝和敵人中間，海燕放棄了，他知道自己沒戲了。

小企鵝為今天準備好久了，他們終于要離開那個冰天雪地的地方，在海上生活了。受到群體力量的驅(qū)動，他們整齊劃一地行動起來。他們果斷地沿著冰緣線一路走，然后在最高點停了下來。他們已經(jīng)做出了選擇，這就是他們即將下海的地方。這里的落差至少有四米，這會是他們有生以來要跨出的最大一步。最終，一只小企鵝作出了決定，他開了個頭，大伙兒逐漸跟了上來，一群小企鵝都下了海。他們生命中的最早階段都在冰上度過，但海洋才是他們的歸宿。