They have nothing to fear from humans so indeed they aren't bothered. There are various rules you have to follow (maximum distance 5m, don't block their paths and obviously the colonies are a no-go area). The penguins usually don't follow those rules so you have to be careful when, for example, you've stood in one spot watching for a while and you should really look behind you in case one has sneaked up on you. ;o) On our first landing I had to skip visiting the research station because I had been stuck between an elephant seals and two troops of penguins and had to wait until the pengsters had moved on before I could go back to the landing site...
Tourism in Antarctica has certainly risen in the last five years or so but I still wouldn't call it "lots" compared to, say, Paris. Compared to others, our ship was big with 256 passengers, most of the expedition ships have fewer than 100 and most are around the 50-60 mark. IIRC, there are 40odd ships (excluding research vessels) cruising the Antarctic every season so that's about 4,000 tourists at any time over a huge area.
The whole scene made me chuckle. They use it as a weapon, too. On King George, I watched two gentoos having an argument (I don't know what was going on, the one on the nest wasn't happy with the other guy standing nearby, maybe he tried to steal a pebble) so first they screeched at each other, then one hacked at the other with his beak and finally turned around and,er, shot him...
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They don't seem to be at all bothered by your presence. Do lots of people make it down there?
I could tell from your chuckling that you enjoyed the squirt! LOL
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On our first landing I had to skip visiting the research station because I had been stuck between an elephant seals and two troops of penguins and had to wait until the pengsters had moved on before I could go back to the landing site...
Tourism in Antarctica has certainly risen in the last five years or so but I still wouldn't call it "lots" compared to, say, Paris.
Compared to others, our ship was big with 256 passengers, most of the expedition ships have fewer than 100 and most are around the 50-60 mark.
IIRC, there are 40odd ships (excluding research vessels) cruising the Antarctic every season so that's about 4,000 tourists at any time over a huge area.
The whole scene made me chuckle.
They use it as a weapon, too. On King George, I watched two gentoos having an argument (I don't know what was going on, the one on the nest wasn't happy with the other guy standing nearby, maybe he tried to steal a pebble) so first they screeched at each other, then one hacked at the other with his beak and finally turned around and,er, shot him...
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Heehee! Stealth penguins! Superb!
It certainly looks like an amazing experience. Shall keep it in mind for when future holiday ideas are discussed...
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In the C18 - 19, a large area of Deception Island was turned into a cabbage plantation for crews of whaling ships, to help them avoid scury.