Penguin sex censored in Victorian times

pachyderm · Jun 10, 2012, 08:13 AM

"Accounts of unusual sexual activities among penguins, observed a century ago by a member of Captain Scott's polar team, are finally being made public.

"Details, including "sexual coercion", recorded by Dr George Murray Levick were considered so shocking that they were removed from official accounts."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-18370797

IowaFarmGal · 08:51 AM

Thanks for this! I needed a smile today! Pfrog how did you get underneath? I was responding to your post.

Jun 10, 2012, 08:44 AM

You've Been A Naughty Penguin

Penguin sex censored in Victorian times

Now, Go To Your Room ... !!!

*******

Actually an interesting article, Pachy ... Thanks for sharing ...

... !!!

Jun 10, 2012, 02:03 PM

I started to post that story from Rawstory but it looked pretty triggery.

Quote:

"It was the sight of a young male Adelie penguin attempting to have sex with a dead female that particularly unnerved George Murray Levick, a scientist with the 1910-13 Scott Antarctic Expedition. No such observation had ever been recorded before, as far as he knew, and Levick, a typical Edwardian Englishman, was horrified. Blizzards and freezing cold were one thing. Penguin perversion was another".....“The pamphlet, declined for publication with the official Scott expedition reports, commented on the frequency of sexual activity, auto-erotic behaviour, and seemingly aberrant behaviour of young unpaired males and females, including necrophilia, sexual coercion, sexual and physical abuse of chicks and homosexual behaviour,” states the analysis written by Russell and colleagues William Sladen and David Ainley. “His observations were, however, accurate, valid and, with the benefit of hindsight, deserving of publication.”

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/06/0...ed-not-reveal/
Pretty freaky stuff.

eskielover · Jun 10, 2012, 02:17 PM

Birds will be birds.....they aren't humans.....& don't have anywhere close to human brains & think with their instincts, not their brains.

Very interesting thanks for sharing. Always interested in animal/bird behavior.......wonder if WantsToFly will see this (our PC penguin lover)

Nicks_Nose · Jun 10, 2012, 03:08 PM

Aww those uptight Edwardians! Imagine them wathcing some of the movies and tv shows of today.

Jun 10, 2012, 03:30 PM

Anyone see Encounters at the End of the World by film maker Werner Herzog? There's a really moving sequence where he's watching a lone penguin heading off inland across the ice sheet on some solo journey that can only end in it's death. There is no logical reason for this little bird to waddle off to the mountains...it was pretty emotional really and of course Herzogs voice as usual is intense and full of wonder He narrates the scene perfectly. I can't describe the scene...but you all would appreciate it if you saw it.

Overall a great documentary...worth a look for you docu. folks out there and anyone with an appreciation for nature and our last earthbound frontier. Check out Herzogs other offerings while you're at it...some great docus and fine cinema as well.

pachyderm · Jun 10, 2012, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eskielover

Birds will be birds.....& think with their instincts, not their brains.

Unlike human beings...

Jun 11, 2012, 03:12 AM

I thought the 'lone penguins' to be touching enough to go see if it existed as a clip. I dunno...in the documentary it sort of spoke to me. Not to be all serious but anyway...