I-emperor Eyisimanga

INGUZA (penguin) enkulu kunazo zonke, i-emperor, ingaphezu kwemitha ukuphakama futhi inesisindo esingamakhilogremu angu-40. Uma ezinye izinguza zilibangise enyakatho zibalekela ubusika base-Antarctica obubandayo, obumnyama, ama-emperor alibangisa eningizimu—e-Antarctica! Kungani? Ngokumangalisayo, ukuze ayozalela.

Lapho i-emperor eyinsikazi ibekela amaqanda, eyeduna iwacosha ngokushesha eqhweni iwaphathe ngezinyawo. Bese iwafaka esikhwameni sayo sokufukamela—umvingqi wesikhumba osesiswini sayo. Eyensikazi ibe isilibhekisa olwandle iyofuna ukudla. Eyeduna ifukamela iqanda izinsuku ezingu-65 esimweni sezulu esibandayo, yona iphile ngamafutha asemzimbeni wayo. Ukuze zihlale zifudumele lapho zishaywa umoya onesivinini esingase sifinyelele kumakhilomitha angu-200 ngehora, lezi zinyoni ezihlakaniphile ziyasondelana zibe amaqoqo amakhulu, zishintshane ngokuba ngaphandle, imihlane ifulathele umoya.

Ngenxa yokuqondana kwesikhathi okumangalisayo, iqanda lichanyuselwa lapho nje eyensikazi ibuya. Kodwa imthola kanjani umngane wayo kulezi zinkulungwane ezifana naye? Ngokuhlabelela ingoma. Lapho uqomisana okokuqala, lo mbhangqwana wawuhayelana ingoma bese uyibamba ngekhanda indlela omunye nomunye acula ngayo. Lapho izinsikazi zibuya, amaduna nezinsikazi acula ngokusuka enhliziyweni. Le misindo eklabalasayo ibingabenza badideke ngokuphelele abantu, kodwa ngokushesha ama-emperor ayabathola abangane bawo. Khona-ke, ngemva kokuthatha iphuphu elisanda kuchanyuselwa ilinikeze unina ngokungabaza, eyeduna esifile yindlala iyazihudula inqamule eqhweni eliyibanga elingamakhilomitha angu-70 iyofuna ukudla emanzini.

[Umthombo Wesithombe ekhasini 31]

By courtesy of John R. Peiniger