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Penguin Swims 8,000KM Every Year To See The Man Who Saved His Life

It’s illegal for you to keep wild animals as pets in Brazil. But despite what the law may say, Dindim comes to live with his best friend, whom he met on the beaches of Brazil, every year since 2011.

71-year-old retired bricklayer and part time fisherman Joao Pereira de Souza found Dindim, a South American Magellanic penguin, covered in oil and close to death. When De Souza nursed him back to health, however, he found that Dindim didn’t want to leave; when he finally did, De Souza was surprised to see him return the next year, and the years following.

“I love the penguin like it’s my own child and I believe the penguin loves me,” Joao told Globo TV. “No one else is allowed to touch him. He pecks them if they do. He lays on my lap, lets me give him showers, allows me to feed him sardines and to pick him up.” (h/t: independent)

“Everyone said he wouldn’t return but he has been coming back to visit me for the past four years”

man-saves-penguin-returns-swims-5000-miles-18

71-year-old Joao found this penguin covered in oil and close to death in 2011

man-saves-penguin-returns-swims-5000-miles-17

“He stayed with me for 11 months and then…he disappeared

But Dindim kept coming back every year, swimming 8,000km to do so

man-saves-penguin-returns-swims-5000-miles-21

“I love the penguin like it’s my own child and I believe the penguin loves me. When he sees him he wags his tail like a dog and honks with delight”

man-saves-penguin-returns-swims-5000-miles-5

“No one else is allowed to touch him. He pecks them if they do”

man-saves-penguin-returns-swims-5000-miles-14

“I have never seen anything like this before. I think the penguin believes Joao is part of his family and probably a penguin as well” – said Biologist Professor Krajewski

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What do you think ?

POST

Mila 8 years ago

My heart just melted. I LOVE ANIMALS SO MUCH!!

24points

TrevorDennis 8 years ago

A psychopath wouldn't understand that, which makes me feel kind of sorry for them. On the other hand, I consider myself a Strong Atheist, so folk with religion would probably feel sorry for me. But hey, I love animals too, and that's good enough for me :-)

3points

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BradWescott 8 years ago

Sooooo cool!

15points

MikePg 8 years ago

I have rescue dogs from a shelter and I've also had a dog I rescued after it was dumped in a petrol station in the middle of winter (-28C - Latvia). And I have to say that the dog that I rescued from the petrol station was far more loving, attentive and obedient than the others (they are good dogs too :) ) We need to give animals the respect that they deserve, they understand when something good is being done for them. I guess it helps that the penguin knows if it turns up on the beach someone will feed him, saving him the job of catching it's own food ;)

11points

TonyHo 8 years ago

That was the sweetest story. All animals remember. They have feelings. I love animals.

6points

Jacky 8 years ago

Unbelievable, but very cool.

5points

PatGreenleaf 8 years ago

That penguin loves you, sir!! And he's loyal as only an animal can be....lucky you!!

4points

Jessica 8 years ago

I love this!:) Life can be so wonderful and kind sometimes.

4points

GregPlant 8 years ago

Joao is a good person.

3points

RodMunster 8 years ago

There are animals more grateful than most humans.

3points

CinzLeaf 8 years ago

Wow!!! Too freakn COOOOLLL MAN!! I love penguins, as do my whole Leaf/Mahanga/May whanau... That penguin or Kororā to my family, was truely blessed and lucky to have found a companion in someone like Mr De Souza! Thank you sir, your love care and generosity has seen him well and has caused my eyes to swim with tears as i think of what the alternative could have been .... and then my heart cries with pure happiness too, you have no idea! So, again, i thank you ... XxoX

3points

EesyamRidzwan 8 years ago

But I feel terribly sad reading this.. What if, the next year when the penguin come again, the old man is not around anymore? I seriously can't imagine that! :(

3points

Jeremy Gibbons 8 years ago

Good news! Penguins live around 20 years, so maybe the two of them will die at the same time.

1point

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Mike Allen 8 years ago

Maybe tourists who visit the beach because of this story will help feed the penguin.

0points

MichaelWeiss 8 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

TedTheAtheist 8 years ago

I think it's stupid for that biologist to think that the penguin thinks that he's another penguin. That's just bs. No, the penguin is smart/intelligent enough to know that he's NOT like him, but he did him a solid.. so he knows he owes him his life.

2points

Maureen Mower 8 years ago

This is so awesome... first that the man cared enough to help the penguin, and then that the penguin understood what the man did so deeply that he bonded to the man and spends so much time with him whenever he's not on a mating trip. ----------------- I wonder if someday he'll bring his mate and penguin pups along too, lol. --------------- The only thing I feel badly about is, what happens when the man (who's already in his 70's) passes away? How will the penguin understand where his friend went?.... It might be a good idea if the man helped the penguin bond to at least one other person in the village, preferably someone younger, so that he would have some comfort when the time comes.

2points

GretaBershteyn-Kosenko 8 years ago

Animals Are more loyal than humans by far

2points

IvanTadej 8 years ago

Nice, but silly is the opinion of Professor Krajewski. Why should the penguin think that Joao is a penguin? I think that the penguin sees well that Joao is not a penguin and understand it well. Of cours, he can not know that Joao is a Homo sapiens sapiens in the linguistic sense, but understands well that that Joao from a different species is a good and noble individue.

2points

JosephChavoen 8 years ago

Let us just admit it. Animals know, they feel, bleed, hurt and they LOVE.. w all their being.

2points

PhillipeKnippel 8 years ago

Amazing!

1point

SusannaVesna 8 years ago

This is love! :)

1point

AntonVi 8 years ago

This is fantastic!!!

1point

IanHawkins 8 years ago

Wonderful site. Thank you.

1point

SusanL.Miller 8 years ago

What a lovely reward for such kindness!

1point

ElviraKozhevnikov 8 years ago

my heart just melted and I almost cried from adorableness <3

1point

ElviraKozhevnikov 8 years ago

my heart melted and I almost cried from the adorableness <3

1point

JaneRathbun 8 years ago

Such a wonderful story!

1point

KoachHarrington 8 years ago

I love it. Animals often since those that will help them and bond with those that do.

1point

KoachHarrington 8 years ago

I love it. Animals can often since those who will help them and bond with those who do.

1point

RonWilson 8 years ago

Beyond precious

1point

LuciaPusparani 8 years ago

luckiest man on earth :)

1point

AnnaJei 8 years ago

I have tears in my eyes ... So amazing

1point

PastelUnicorn 8 years ago

Awww that's beautiful!

1point

MizLynaIbrahim 8 years ago

Awwww... super cute!! =)

1point

Тысептиани 8 years ago

This is very touching. How animals meet the kind hearted humans.

1point

DariusB. 8 years ago

lovely story :)

1point

Christine Adamczyk 7 years ago

Heart warming made me cry.

0points

Duane Cain 8 years ago

I Love this Story!! Freaking Amazing!!

0points

Cristian Bonsen 8 years ago

The penguin simply knows where the (seasonal) food is. And it's ok. You don't need to bestow human traits to animals neither to love them nor to care for them. That would be anthropocentric.

0points

Dave Norris 8 years ago

I love this story!

0points

HirokiYokoyama 8 years ago

可愛いンゴ

0points

MikeChua 8 years ago

I hate to be a skeptic, but how exactly anyone knows the Penguin actually swam 8,000 km? Any insight will be greatly appreciated.

0points

AlexandruSuciu 8 years ago

0points

LuciaPusparani 8 years ago

luckiest man on earth

0points

IvanTadej 8 years ago

Nice, but silly opinion from Professor Krajewski. Why should the penguin be such an idiot to think that Joao is a penguin? I think that the penguin understands that Joao is not a penguin, can not, of course know that Joao is a Homo sapiens sapiens in linguistic terms, but understands well that Joao is a good being, not a penguin. :)

0points

LuciaDeSantiago 8 years ago

:D !

0points

ColbyOrrick 8 years ago

"I think the penguin believes Joao is part of his family and probably a penguin as well” – said Biologist Professor Krajewski" Or maybe we dont understand as much about animal intelligence as we think we do.

0points

juan 8 years ago

Still a Better Love Story than Twilight

0points

AudreyGenz 8 years ago

So touched!

0points

BrianKnapp 8 years ago

Nice!

0points

TracyAnderson 8 years ago

Adorable

0points

AlexSandraPityrigka 8 years ago

amazing!

0points

AvisHolt 8 years ago

That is SO precious!!! Animals are so perceptive, he knows that man loves him and helped him when he needed it. What a joy not only for Joao but for the whole village. Everyone enjoys his visits, even though no one can get near him but Joao. :D Lovely story!!!

0points

SubatomicKitty 8 years ago

Awwwww!

0points

DeyanAtanasov 8 years ago

My grand-ma nursed a wild pigeon, she feeded him from her mouth. He returned to her every summer. He landed on her head and "spoke" to her. So I find nothing strange with that penguin.

-2points

PaulCole 8 years ago

what a nice story of love and respect.

-2points

MichaelWeiss 8 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

RussellSmith 8 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

AttackOnTitanIsAwesome 8 years ago

Wtf ?

1point

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POST

Mila 8 years ago

My heart just melted. I LOVE ANIMALS SO MUCH!!

24points

TrevorDennis 8 years ago

3points

Load More Replies...

BradWescott 8 years ago

Sooooo cool!

15points

MikePg 8 years ago

11points

TonyHo 8 years ago

That was the sweetest story. All animals remember. They have feelings. I love animals.

6points

Jacky 8 years ago

Unbelievable, but very cool.

5points

PatGreenleaf 8 years ago

That penguin loves you, sir!! And he's loyal as only an animal can be....lucky you!!

4points

Jessica 8 years ago

I love this!:) Life can be so wonderful and kind sometimes.

4points

GregPlant 8 years ago

Joao is a good person.

3points

RodMunster 8 years ago

There are animals more grateful than most humans.

3points

CinzLeaf 8 years ago

3points

EesyamRidzwan 8 years ago

But I feel terribly sad reading this.. What if, the next year when the penguin come again, the old man is not around anymore? I seriously can't imagine that! :(

3points

Jeremy Gibbons 8 years ago

Good news! Penguins live around 20 years, so maybe the two of them will die at the same time.

1point

Load More Replies...

Mike Allen 8 years ago

Maybe tourists who visit the beach because of this story will help feed the penguin.

0points

MichaelWeiss 8 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

TedTheAtheist 8 years ago

2points

Maureen Mower 8 years ago

2points

GretaBershteyn-Kosenko 8 years ago

Animals Are more loyal than humans by far

2points

IvanTadej 8 years ago

2points

JosephChavoen 8 years ago

Let us just admit it. Animals know, they feel, bleed, hurt and they LOVE.. w all their being.

2points

PhillipeKnippel 8 years ago

Amazing!

1point

SusannaVesna 8 years ago

This is love! :)

1point

AntonVi 8 years ago

This is fantastic!!!

1point

IanHawkins 8 years ago

Wonderful site. Thank you.

1point

SusanL.Miller 8 years ago

What a lovely reward for such kindness!

1point

ElviraKozhevnikov 8 years ago

my heart just melted and I almost cried from adorableness <3

1point

ElviraKozhevnikov 8 years ago

my heart melted and I almost cried from the adorableness <3

1point

JaneRathbun 8 years ago

Such a wonderful story!

1point

KoachHarrington 8 years ago

I love it. Animals often since those that will help them and bond with those that do.

1point

KoachHarrington 8 years ago

I love it. Animals can often since those who will help them and bond with those who do.

1point

RonWilson 8 years ago

Beyond precious

1point

LuciaPusparani 8 years ago

luckiest man on earth :)

1point

AnnaJei 8 years ago

I have tears in my eyes ... So amazing

1point

PastelUnicorn 8 years ago

Awww that's beautiful!

1point

MizLynaIbrahim 8 years ago

Awwww... super cute!! =)

1point

Тысептиани 8 years ago

This is very touching. How animals meet the kind hearted humans.

1point

DariusB. 8 years ago

lovely story :)

1point

Christine Adamczyk 7 years ago

Heart warming made me cry.

0points

Duane Cain 8 years ago

I Love this Story!! Freaking Amazing!!

0points

Cristian Bonsen 8 years ago

The penguin simply knows where the (seasonal) food is. And it's ok. You don't need to bestow human traits to animals neither to love them nor to care for them. That would be anthropocentric.

0points

Dave Norris 8 years ago

I love this story!

0points

HirokiYokoyama 8 years ago

可愛いンゴ

0points

MikeChua 8 years ago

I hate to be a skeptic, but how exactly anyone knows the Penguin actually swam 8,000 km? Any insight will be greatly appreciated.

0points

AlexandruSuciu 8 years ago

0points

LuciaPusparani 8 years ago

luckiest man on earth

0points

IvanTadej 8 years ago

0points

LuciaDeSantiago 8 years ago

:D !

0points

ColbyOrrick 8 years ago

0points

juan 8 years ago

Still a Better Love Story than Twilight

0points

AudreyGenz 8 years ago

So touched!

0points

BrianKnapp 8 years ago

Nice!

0points

TracyAnderson 8 years ago

Adorable

0points

AlexSandraPityrigka 8 years ago

amazing!

0points

AvisHolt 8 years ago

0points

SubatomicKitty 8 years ago

Awwwww!

0points

DeyanAtanasov 8 years ago

My grand-ma nursed a wild pigeon, she feeded him from her mouth. He returned to her every summer. He landed on her head and "spoke" to her. So I find nothing strange with that penguin.

-2points

PaulCole 8 years ago

what a nice story of love and respect.

-2points

MichaelWeiss 8 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

RussellSmith 8 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

AttackOnTitanIsAwesome 8 years ago

Wtf ?

1point

Load More Replies...

Penguin Swims 8,000KM Every Year To See The Man Who Saved His Life

“Everyone said he wouldn’t return but he has been coming back to visit me for the past four years”

71-year-old Joao found this penguin covered in oil and close to death in 2011

“He stayed with me for 11 months and then…he disappeared

But Dindim kept coming back every year, swimming 8,000km to do so

“I love the penguin like it’s my own child and I believe the penguin loves me. When he sees him he wags his tail like a dog and honks with delight”

“No one else is allowed to touch him. He pecks them if they do”

“I have never seen anything like this before. I think the penguin believes Joao is part of his family and probably a penguin as well” – said Biologist Professor Krajewski

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