Gentoo penguins at Sea Life Kelly Tarlton’s in Auckland begin pebble courtships

The gentoo penguin breeding season is under way and visitors to Sea Life Kelly Tarlton’s in Auckland can witness the unique pebble courtship.

Keepers provide the penguins with pebbles to collect and present to their partners – think of it as a penguin proposal.

The carefully picked pebbles are then used to build the nest in which the female penguin can lay their eggs.

Gentoo penguins collect and present pebbles to their partners to build nests.

Sea Life Kelly Tarlton’s penguin department team leader Amy Wardrop said females traditionally lay two or three eggs annually.

“Typically, gentoo partnerships last for two or three years. Some pairs switch up partners every year and we did have a couple that mated for life.”

The penguins’ displays of love can be seen at Sea Life Kelly Tarlton’s penguin colony at the Antarctic Ice Adventure.

Sign up to The Daily H, a free newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.