Early in his career, Lloyd Spencer Davis became fascinated by penguins and the questions they pose. Why can’t they fly? Why are they more like fish than birds — more comfortable in the water than on land?
As a biologist, Davis wanted to know how penguins solve the many compromises they must make. He reveals that these box-office favourites are not the cute mate-for-life animals we might have been led to believe. Rather, they are a lot like us — disturbingly so.
This engaging writer is foremost a storyteller. He takes us to the remote locations where he’s studied these much-loved animals: from Antarctica to the Galapagos Islands, and from the wild coasts of Argentina to New Zealand.
In this many-layered and hugely entertaining book, Davis explores a world that few experience, and uncovers fascinating information about these endearing creatures, caught between two worlds.