Automata -The Penguins Revenge

The Story of "The Penguins' Revenge" Automata.

I asked my grandsons if they had any ideas for a new automata project. As we chatted the theme of penguins seem to come to the forefront of the discussion. This could be because we had only recently dismantled our Christmas float we had displayed for a few years in the community that had a number of penguins on it. So we continued to brainstorm ideas to develop a story that could be the basis of a new automata project.

In Antarctica penguins struggle to survive in a particularly harsh frigid environment. This includes repeatedly walking long distances from the ocean back to their nesting grounds to regurgitate fish caught in the sea to feed their young chicks. As if this was not challenging enough, they often are hunted by fierce leopard seals who wait on ice floes when they jump into the sea to hunt for fish.

A group of penguins have had enough and have devised a clever ruse to try to discourage leopard seals from staying in the area. The principle predator of leopard seals are killer whales, also known as Orcas. The seals believe if they disguise themselves as killer whales perhaps they can scare the leopard seals enough to drive them away. Equipped with fake Orca dorsal fins strapped to their backs, penguins furiously circle an ice floe with a particularly near-sighted leopard seal on it. His eyes dart back and forth as he believes he sees himself surrounded by a pod of vicious killer whales. with an eye on him for breakfast.

Nearby, the ringleader of the penguin group peeks out from behind an ice pinnacle to watch the action. The trick appears to be working. The seal looks to be frozen in fear. With a little luck, and a few more of these shows with other seals, maybe, just maybe, they can scare all the leopard seals away.