ABSTRACT
John was walking up a path with other volunteers from the penguin viewing platform in the dark. The beam of light from the torch he carried picked-up out how we shared the path with penguins returning that evening to their burrows. He, like the other volunteers were very excited. John extended his hand and touched a penguin on the back. In one instantaneous movement, the penguin turned its head and immediately snapped back. Everyone fell silent. We all understood from working as volunteers in a nature reserve that touching penguins was forbidden. To break the silence, John started laughing. Later, talking over a hot drink before retiring for the day, he started to talk about his desire to touch the penguin as a way to become closer to nature. He told me that to his surprise and disappointment, the penguin was not soft to the touch, but felt course, like fish scales.
