Why a loved-up penguin couple is giving us #relationshipgoals

After the tension of the England-Colombia World Cup penalties, and the drama of Jack’s ex appearing at the Love Island villa, we all need something wholesome to calm us down.

Which is why we’d like to draw your attention to these two adorable penguins - the ones pictured below, not above - strolling on a beach, flipper-in-flipper.

This cute penguin couple was taking a lovely waddle together on the sand in South Africa.

At one point, they stop and just look into each other’s eyes. *Sniff*

The video was posted on Twitter and blew up, with the original tweet going viral with more than 206,000 likes and just over 76,000 retweets.

Some people are confused about why there are penguins in South Africa:

Although others are pointing out that penguins live in a lot of different countries.

Every day’s a school day, folks.

Others are comparing the penguins’ happiness to their own love lives.

And some people are reminded of another famous penguin couple…

But pretty much everyone agrees – these penguins are giving us #couplegoals.

And if you’re worried that this is just a short-lived penguin fling, fear not – African Penguins, like a lot of penguin species, mate for life. 

When they first hook up, they do an adorable dance together where they tap their feet as close to each other as possible, and make squeaky noises.

Then they, er, get down to business, after which they’re loyal to each other ‘til death do them part.

Penguins aren’t the only birds that have been known to stay faithful to the same partner for their whole lives.

Albatrosses are known for only having eyes for one lucky bird, even after spending months apart. In fact, they are regarded as the most faithful birds. They only ever find someone new if their partner dies (and albatrosses usually live for around 50 years).

Unlike albatrosses, most other birds that mate for life can sometimes break up. For example, ducks. According to a major 1996 study by Jeffrey Black, which was creatively called Partnership in Birds, most duck couples do go the distance – but, sadly, around 9% 'divorce'. Obviously birds don't actually marry each other, but we mean they decide to go their separate ways. A conscious uncoupling, if you will. 

Swans do a little bit better – which makes sense, given the stereotypes of swans as romantic and loyal. Their relationships are successful around 95% of the time, which is impressive by any standards.

Flamingos, on the other hand, are the most fickle. Although they readily partner up with each other, their relationships very rarely last – about 99% of flamingo couples break up. Sad times.

So, if the Georgia-Josh-Kaz love triangle on Love Island is keeping you up at night, try to forget about it and think about this lovely penguin couple instead. Sigh.

Originally published on 5 July 2018