“I love the penguin like it’s my own child and I believe the penguin loves me”: a touching sentiment shared by Joao Pereira de Souza, a Brazilian pensioner who has formed an extraordinary bond with a penguin he once rescued. The remarkable tale of their relationship has captured hearts worldwide.
In 2011, 71-year-old Joao Pereira de Souza, a retired bricklayer and part-time fisherman from an island village near Rio de Janeiro, stumbled upon a South American Magellanic penguin in dire straits. The bird, later named Dindim, was found on the beach, starving and covered in oil. De Souza’s compassion drove him to nurse the penguin back to health at his home. It took him a week to meticulously clean the sticky black residue from Dindim’s feathers.
Once Dindim had recovered, de Souza released him back into the wild, assuming their paths would never cross again. However, to his amazement, the penguin returned just a few months later, recognizing his rescuer and rejoining him at his home.
Since then, Dindim has made the arduous journey, swimming approximately 5,000 miles, to reunite with de Souza every year. The penguin spends eight months with de Souza and the remaining time breeding off the coast of Argentina and Chile. This unique bond showcases the deep affection between the two, with Dindim treating de Souza as a family member.
“I love the penguin like it’s my own child and I believe the penguin loves me,” de Souza expressed to Globo TV. Their connection is so strong that Dindim is protective of de Souza, pecking at anyone who attempts to touch him. The penguin enjoys being fed sardines, taking showers, and even resting on de Souza’s lap.
De Souza recalls the early days of their relationship, feeding Dindim a daily diet of fish to build his strength before attempting to release him. “But he wouldn’t leave,” de Souza said. “He stayed with me for 11 months and then, after he changed his coat with new feathers, he disappeared.” Contrary to everyone’s expectations, Dindim has returned every year for the past four years. Each time he arrives in June and departs in February, growing more affectionate and seemingly happier to see de Souza with each visit.
Biologist Joao Paulo Krajewski, who interviewed de Souza for Globo TV, remarked on the unusual nature of this bond, noting that it appears Dindim perceives de Souza as part of his family, possibly even as another penguin. “When he sees him, he wags his tail like a dog and honks with delight,” Krajewski noted.
This story is a testament to the powerful connections that can form between humans and animals, demonstrating a rare and beautiful friendship that transcends species.
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