Four years ago, João Pereira de Souza, a 71-year-old retired fisherman, made an unexpected and life-changing discovery on a beach on an island near Rio de Janeiro. He found a South American Magellanic penguin, covered in oil and starving. Far from its natural habitat, the penguin had strayed from the coasts of Argentina and Chile, thousands of miles away. What began as a rescue soon blossomed into an extraordinary friendship.
Since that first encounter in 2011, the penguin, named Dindim by João, has made a remarkable yearly journey. Every year, Dindim swims back from his home in Patagonia to João’s house on the island, where he stays for up to eight months. The bond between the two is undeniable.
“I love the penguin as if he were my child, and I truly believe he loves me too,” João said during an interview with Globo TV, where Dindim could be seen honking happily upon recognizing João. The penguin has become so bonded with him that he won’t allow anyone else to approach him. “No one else is allowed to touch him. He pecks anyone who tries. He lies on my lap, lets me give him a shower, allows me to feed him sardines, and even lets me pick him up,” João proudly shared.
Dindim’s attachment to João began when he was rescued from the beach, where the fisherman spent a week cleaning the bird’s tarred feathers and nursing him back to health. After regaining his strength, João returned Dindim to the sea, expecting him to leave for good. However, the penguin stayed with him for 11 months, and once he molted and grew new feathers, he disappeared. Despite believing he wouldn’t return, Dindim has returned to João every year since.
“Everyone thought he wouldn’t come back, but he does. He arrives in June and stays until February, and every year he seems more affectionate. He’s even happier to see me,” João said.
Biologist João Paulo Krajewski, who interviewed João for Globo TV, was astounded by the penguin’s behavior. “I have never seen anything like this before. I think the penguin believes João is part of his family, perhaps even a penguin himself,” Krajewski remarked. “When Dindim sees João, he wags his tail like a dog and honks in excitement.”
While penguins are known for their loyalty and typically remain with the same mate for life, Dindim’s behavior is particularly extraordinary. Meanwhile, environmentalists are increasingly worried about the growing number of ocean creatures washing up on Brazil’s beaches. From 2010 to 2013, the Humpback Whale Institute in Bahia documented more than 180 stranded mammals along the Brazilian coastline.
Professor David Zee, an oceanographer at Rio de Janeiro’s State University, explained that this rise is connected to climate change. He noted that strong ocean currents from the Falkland Islands bring species like seals, whales, dolphins, turtles, and penguins to Brazil, where they can become stranded. Environmental factors, including rising ocean temperatures and oil spills, contribute to this issue.
However, Dindim’s story is a rare and heartwarming exception. While it is illegal in Brazil to keep wild animals as pets, authorities made an exception for João, allowing Dindim to stay with him due to his kind and compassionate care. Biologist Krajewski pointed out that professionals usually discourage forming such bonds to ensure animals can be returned to the wild. However, Dindim’s relationship with João has become exceptional in this unique case.
“It’s an incredible feeling to know Dindim chooses to return here every year, to exchange his life with thousands of other penguins just to be with me,” João reflected. “It’s a very special relationship.”
Article Source: Independent
