"Grand Return": Researchers capture stunning images of a large migration of penguins in Antarctica.

In Antarctica, the "great return of the penguins" has commenced on Galindez Island. This was reported on October 15 by the press service of the National Antarctic Scientific Center, which supports the work of Ukrainian polar explorers at the Antarctic station "Academician Vernadsky."

While autumn prevails in Ukraine, spring is taking hold in Antarctica. The sea ice around Galindez Island is already melting. Thousands of sub-Antarctic penguins have begun to return in search of better nesting sites.

Biologist Sviatoslav Davydenko counted more than 3,500 penguins on the island by the end of last week. However, Antarctic residents continue to arrive.

"Some rocks, ideal for nesting, are already emerging from the snow, so the penguins are actively dividing these areas among themselves," Davydenko explained.

Scientists indicated that approximately from late October to early November (depending on the weather), the penguins will enter their nesting period. The birds will construct nests from stones, seeking out higher ground for this purpose.

Last year, a record number of penguins—7,000—was recorded on Galindez Island. The exact count of feathered residents this time will become clear after the eggs and chicks appear.

As a reminder, on September 26, Ukrainian polar explorers announced they had chosen a name for the first Weddell seal pup. Among nearly 400 options, they selected a name that is now shared with the SBU drone.

On September 25, it became known that in Australia, a penguin chick named Pesto is growing, which gained popularity due to its record size. Starting from the size of an avocado, in just 9 months, it has grown to weigh over 22 kilograms.