"Little thieves!" A video of penguins stealing pebbles near Vernadsky was posted online

A "crime" was captured on video near the Ukrainian Antarctic station Akademik Vernadsky. Subantarctic penguins nesting on Galindez Island steal pebbles from each other.

According to Ukrainian researchers, sub-Antarctic penguins often steal pebbles from each other. This time, however, the polar explorers recorded the "little thieves" and posted the video on their Facebook page.

"Stealing pebbles is a common thing for sub-Arctic penguins. This is the reason why they often have quarrels and even fights," said the Vernadsky researchers.

According to scientists, pebbles are the main building material for penguin nests. "Every year it becomes more and more difficult to get it, because the number of penguins on Galindega is growing, but the number of stones is not. So instead of looking for "building material" elsewhere, clever birds steal it from their neighbors," the polar explorers say.

Anna Soiniy, a participant of the 29th UAE, managed to capture this moment of "crime" on video.

"One penguin successfully moved stones from someone else's nest to his own until his owner came. And even then, the thief did not stop until he received a formidable warning," Ukrainian researchers described the feathered fight.

It is interesting to observe the behavior of the penguins who witnessed the theft. They just watched everything calmly, because it did not affect their nests.

Earlier, OBOZ.UA wrote that Ukrainian polar explorers posted a video where penguins started a "war" for females.

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