National Geographic’s Secrets of the Penguins filmed rare “rockaroni” chicks for the docuseries The baby penguins are hybrids created by a rockhopper mom and a macaroni penguin dadPenguin researchers Pablo “Popi” Borboroglu closely studied the “rockaroni” chicks and thinks the baby animals could have “evolutionary advantages” moving forward
Pablo “Popi” Borboroglu knew from an early age he was meant to be among the penguins.
“When I was a small boy, my grandmother used to tell me wonderful stories about her visits to see penguins along the wild Patagonian coast of Argentina, where I live and work today. Her stories sparked my early connection to nature,” Borboroglu, a penguin researcher and conservationist with a Ph.D. in marine biology, tells PEOPLE.
This initial curiosity led Borboroglu to check out a penguin colony when he got a bit older.
“During my first visit to a penguin colony, I found myself surrounded by half a million penguins — and in that moment, I knew. I felt with complete clarity that my life’s mission was to study and protect these incredible animals,” the founder and president of the Global Penguin Society adds.
Borboroglu is now decades into his penguin research career, which is spotlighted in the new National Geographic docuseries Secrets of the Penguins. In the show, Borboroglu introduces viewers to a colony of southern rockhopper penguins living in Argentina. Among the birds are two innovative penguins who managed to do something scientists have recorded just a few times before.
Secrets of the Penguins captured on film a mixed-species penguin couple consisting of a female rockhopper and a male macaroni penguin. Stranger yet, the pair successfully mated and hatched the resulting eggs, welcoming several “rockaroni” hybrid chicks into the world.
“When two different species breed, the chances of the eggs hatching and chicks surviving are extremely low, so this finding is truly,” Borboroglu says of the it-couple and their chicks featured in the Secrets of the Penguins final episode.
Observing the “rockaroni” family was a first for the penguin researcher and National Geographic Explorer.
“It was absolutely fascinating. Observing a mixed-species pair successfully raising hybrid chicks in the wild was surprising and thought-provoking. Seeing these hybrids thrive offers an incredible opportunity to reflect on the adaptability of penguins and the complexity of their behavior,” Borboroglu adds.
A stock photo of a rockhopper penguin.
Getty
Secrets of the Penguins posits that the rockhopper mom and macaroni dad found love and had a family because they were “driven by environmental pressures that disrupt typical breeding patterns.”
“As shown in Secrets of the Penguins and supported by research, one key factor may be limited mate availability. In colonies where one species is scarce, individuals may form mixed-species pairs out of necessity,” Borboroglu says. “Another intriguing possibility is that the more pronounced physical features of macaroni penguins — such as their larger body size, brighter crests, and louder vocalizations — might be interpreted by rockhoppers as signals of stronger body condition or higher fitness.”
Borboroglu suggests we are “witnessing evolution before our eyes.” If environmental factors force enough rockhoppers and macaroni penguins together, then this “hybridization might act as a pathway to speciation.”
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“It was a vivid reminder that nature is constantly trying new experiments — and sometimes, those experiments succeed in the most unexpected ways,” he says.
Of course, a new species emerging from “rockaroni” unions is far down the line and will be challenged by the unique obstacles “rockaroni” chicks face.
“Hybridization between macaroni and rockhopper penguins is extremely rare because of their differing breeding behaviors and habitats. When it does occur, the physical differences between the species pose added difficulties — hybrid chicks are larger and need more food, which puts extra strain on the smaller rockhopper parent during chick-rearing,” he explains.
But it’s not all rough road for “rockaroni” families. The penguin researcher notes that the chicks could have “evolutionary advantages” in the future.
“The survival and breeding success of ‘rockaroni’ penguins suggest an exceptional level of adaptability. Hybridization may be nature’s response to environmental pressures, creating new genetic combinations that help wildlife cope with shifting conditions.”
A stock photo of a macaroni penguin.
Getty
Borboroglu hopes that meeting the penguin family during Secrets of the Penguins inspires animal lovers to protect the birds. According to the expert, half of the world’s 18 penguin species are listed as threatened or worse on the IUCN Red List. All penguins face threats created by climate change, overfishing, pollution, and habitat degradation.
“I hope people come away with a deeper sense of empathy and admiration for penguins and all marine species. I want them to see how extraordinary these animals are and how fragile their lives can be. Being a penguin in today’s world is incredibly difficult. They are tough, resilient, determined, and brave — but even so, they can’t face the mounting challenges alone,” Borboroglu shares.
The conservationist is also personally dedicated to penguins since the birds have added so much to his life.
“Thanks to penguins, I met my wife on a remote island in Patagonia, and they’ve been part of our journey ever since. They also allowed me to show my sons that it’s possible to follow your dreams — and fulfill your life’s mission — even against all odds,” he says.
Borboroglu adds, “During my 36 years of working with penguins, I’ve always shared the same message: if these birds go to such incredible lengths to survive and raise their chicks successfully — overcoming immense challenges and threats every day — then how can we not do something, even a small act, to help lighten their load?”
Animal lovers can learn more about penguins and how to help them by visiting the Global Penguin Society’s website and tuning into National Geographic’s Secrets of the Penguins, now available to stream on Hulu and Disney+.
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