Facts about penguins

Penguins are a food source for a number of marine mammals, especially leopard seals. These seals hide under ice flows and wait for their prey.

Other marine mammal predators are sea lions and orcas.The penguins aren't without protection though. Their white bellies blend with the snow and sunlight making it difficult for an underwater predator to see them.

Penguins are also eaten by a number of birds -- for example, the Australian sea eagle and the Skua. The penguins black backs blend against the dark ocean water, making it more difficult to spot them from above.

Penguins also have a number of on-land predators like ferrets, cats, snakes, lizards, foxes and rats.

Between staying warm, raising chicks, finding food and avoiding predators, a penguin's life may not sound like much fun.

But penguins have some playful pastimes -- many of which are surprisingly similar to human hobbies!

Tobogganing: Penguins lie on their belly and toboggan through the ice and snow. This helps them move quickly.

Surfing: Penguins are often seen surfing through the waves onto land.

Diving: Penguins dive off cliffs and ice flows into the water, hop back up onto the land and dive down again. Line-ups for good diving spots can get very long!