Living in a pandemic, we have more time and more chances to reevaluate our lives. It seems that we started appreciating more the things that were taken away from us, even if it’s temporary. During these times, most of us look for human comfort, and try our best to stay social while social distancing.
It seems that not only humans need comfort, but animals too. The following photo is probably a once-in-a-lifetime shot that will definitely warm your heart and fill it with love.
Australian photographer Tobias Baumgaertner took the photo of two widowed penguins hugging while gazing out at the Melbourne skyline and it’s probably the greatest photo of all times.
“During times like this, the truly lucky ones are those that can be with the person/people they love most. I captured this moment about a year ago. These two Fairy penguins poised upon a rock overlooking the Melbourne skyline were standing there for hours, flipper in flipper, watching the sparkling lights of the skyline and ocean. A volunteer approached me and told me that the white one was an elderly lady who had lost her partner and apparently so did the younger male to the left. Since then they meet regularly comforting each other and standing together for hours watching the dancing lights of the nearby city. I spent 3 full nights with this penguin colony until I was able to get this picture. Between not being able or allowed to use any lights and the tiny penguins continuously moving, rubbing their flippers on each other’s backs and cleaning one another, it was really hard to get a shot but I got lucky during one beautiful moment. I hope you enjoy this moment as much as I did,” wrote Tobias on his Instagram.
Tobias explains that the penguins became friends after losing their partners. The two-widowed penguins meet regularly to comfort each other.