ABSTRACT
Why this sudden rise in the popularity of penguins, and what might this popularity mean? the first question is misleading, as penguins’ fame has increased gradually throughout the last century, spurred by their appearance in films, zoos, and theme parks.4 Well before the current craze, Desmond Morris had ranked them among the top ten animals that appeal to humans.5 Their recent popularity is better seen as a peak in a long-standing trend rather than an indication of any cultural peculiarity of the twenty-first century, although there are some period-specific
factors worth acknowledging, such as the increase of Antarctic tourism and the pivotal role of the polar regions in environmental debate.
