The Grandpa and the Penguin

The little penguin was happily swimming in the warm water. It was hunting for a tasty fish to eat. Suddenly, disaster struck.

The clear blue water began to fill with thick black oil. It burned the little bird’s eyes. A sticky material covered the penguin’s tiny black and white feathers.

The penguin didn’t realize it, but a ship had spilled oil into the ocean. Now it was spreading quickly through the water. Oil can be deadly to penguins. If the penguin swallowed even a little bit of the toxic substance, it could die.

The bird washed up on the shore of a sandy beach. The penguin lay there, scared, injured, and alone. 

Oil clumped the bird’s feathers together, making it hard for the penguin to swim or waddle. The bird was barely alive. Would anyone help the little penguin in time? 

A little penguin was swimming in the water. But then disaster struck. A ship spilled oil into the ocean. It spread quickly through the water and reached the penguin.

Oil can be deadly to penguins. If the penguin swallowed any of the oil, it could die. The bird washed up on a beach. It could barely move.

Its feathers were covered with sticky oil. The oil burned the little bird’s eyes. Would anyone help the little penguin 

The little penguin was swimming in the water. It was hunting for a fish to eat. Then disaster struck.

The clear blue water began to fill with thick black oil. It burned the bird’s eyes. A sticky material covered the penguin’s black and white feathers.

A ship had spilled oil into the ocean. The oil spread quickly through the water. Oil can be deadly to penguins. The penguin could die if it were to swallow even a little bit of the toxic substance.

The bird washed up on a sandy beach. It lay there, scared. It was injured and alone.

Oil caused the penguin’s feathers to stick together. This made it hard for the bird to swim or waddle. It was barely alive. Would anyone help the little penguin in time? 

João took the penguin on a boat to a nearby island. With a heavy heart, he set the bird free. João was sorry to see his little friend go. It seemed he would never see the penguin again. But he cared about the penguin and wanted it to be happy. Setting it free was the kind thing to do.

Just a few hours later, João got a big surprise. He heard squeaking in his backyard. João rushed outside. He couldn’t believe his eyes. The penguin had returned! It had come all the way back from the island and found João. Now it was calling to him. The little bird wasn’t ready to leave its human friend!

João’s 2-year-old grandson was excited about the bird. He tried to say pinguim, the word for penguin in Portuguese. That’s the language most people in Brazil speak. But the toddler said “dindim” instead. That became the penguin’s name. 

João took the penguin on a boat to a nearby island. He set the bird free. But João was sad. He was sorry to see his little friend go. He thought he would never see the penguin again. But he cared about the penguin. He wanted it to be happy. Setting it free was the kind thing to do.

A few hours went by. Then João got a big surprise. He heard squeaking in his backyard. João ran outside. He couldn’t believe his eyes. The penguin had returned! It swam all the way back from the island and found João. Now it was calling to him. The little bird wasn’t ready to leave its new human friend! 

João has a 2-year-old grandson. The child was excited about the bird. He tried to say pinguim. That’s the word for penguin in Portuguese. Most people in Brazil speak Portuguese. But the toddler said “dindim” instead. So Dindim became the penguin’s name. 

Dindim stayed with the old man for almost a year. Dindim must have been very happy during that time. He let João hold him and pet him. He loved when João gave him showers.

Every night, Dindim slept in the backyard. He was free to come and go. He could leave whenever he wanted.

Then one day, he did. Dindim left. There was no more squeaking in the yard. No more cuddles with João. No more showers. Dindim went back to the sea and didn’t return.

Magellanic penguins spend months at a time swimming in the ocean. It seemed that Dindim had finally gone back to his flock. This time, João was sure the penguin was gone forever. After almost a full year with Dindim, he would never get to hold or pet his little pal again. 

Dindim stayed with the grandpa for almost a year. But one day, Dindim left. There was no more squeaking in the yard. Dindim went back to the sea. 

João was sure the penguin was gone forever. A few months went by. Then one day, João heard a familiar squeaking sound. João couldn’t believe it. It was Dindim! The penguin wagged his tail and honked.

Now Dindim comes back every year. He stays with João from June to November. He has bonded with the grandpa. What does João think about it?

“I love the penguin like it’s my own child. I believe the penguin loves me,” he says.

One of them is a person. One is a penguin. But they became true friends. 

Dindim stayed with the old man for almost a year. Dindim seemed very happy during that time. He let João hold him and pet him. He loved when João gave him showers.

Dindim slept in the backyard every night. He was free to come and go. He could leave whenever he wanted. 

Then one day, he did. Dindim left. There was no more squeaking in the yard. No more cuddles with João. No more showers. Dindim went back to the sea.

Magellanic penguins spend months at a time swimming in the ocean. Dindim had likely gone back to his flock. João was sure the penguin was gone forever. They had spent almost a year together. Now he would never get to hold or pet his little pal again. 

A few months went by. Then one day, João heard that familiar squeaking sound once again. João couldn’t believe what he was hearing. It was Dindim calling him from the backyard!

The penguin had returned once again. The grandpa was thrilled to see Dindim. The bird wagged his tail and honked.

Now Dindim comes back every year. João waits and watches the sea each June. He smiles when he sees Dindim waddle onto the beach. The penguin stays with the grandpa until November. Then he returns to his flock.

During this time, other Magellanic penguins migrate south to beaches and islands. They make nests and raise chicks. But Dindim seems to think João is his family instead. He has bonded with the grandpa. What does João think about it?

“I love the penguin like it’s my own child, and I believe the penguin loves me,” he says.

People in the village know all about the grandpa and the penguin. But Dindim will let himself be held by one person only—João. They go for swims and walk around together. Dindim tries to preen João, or clean him with his beak. That’s how penguins show affection.

One of them is a person and one is a penguin. But they became true friends. 

A few months went by. Then one day, João heard a familiar squeaking sound. João couldn’t believe what he was hearing. It was Dindim calling him from the backyard! 

The bird had come back again. The grandpa was very happy to see his friend. Dindim wagged his tail and honked.

Now Dindim comes back every year. João waits and watches the sea in June. He smiles when he sees Dindim waddle onto the beach. The penguin stays with the grandpa until November. Then he returns to his flock.

During this time, other Magellanic penguins migrate south. They travel to beaches and islands. They make nests and raise chicks. But Dindim seems to think João is his family instead. He has bonded with the grandpa. What does João think about it?

“I love the penguin like it’s my own child. I believe the penguin loves me,” he says. 

People in the village know about the grandpa and the penguin. But Dindim will let only João hold him. They go for swims and walk around together. Dindim tries to preen João, or clean him with his beak. That’s how penguins show affection.

One of them is a person. One is a penguin. But they became true friends.