Juvenile King Penguins leave the colony where they were born when they have fledged fully and are able to swim in the sea and catch their own food.


Juveniles cannot go into the water until they have lost their fluffy brown juvenile down which is an excellent insulator in the air, but a very poor insulator when wet.


They will not return again to breed until they are at least 3 years old, when they will usually return to the site they were born.


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