Kindhearted Man Saves Penguin From Oil Spill and Releases Her Despite Forming an Emotional Connection, Now Every Year His Wholesome Feathery Friend Swims 5,000 Miles to Visit Her Savior (Video)

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Blake Seidel • Managing Editor & Brand Manager
Jul 30, 2024 5:00 AM EDT

Every once in a while, you come across a story that restores your faith in humanity. This is absolutely one of those stories. A man named João from Brazil found a penguin, covered in oil, on the shores near his home in Brazil. He rescued the poor creature, painstakingly cleaned each oily feather, and nursed him back to health after the terrible accident. Despite bonding closely during their week together, João knew he had to let his feathery friend go back to her place in the wild.

To his surprise, he found a penguin again on the shores near his home a few months later. It was the exact same penguin! She recognized him, played with him, and was overjoyed to see him again. Then, every year from then on, she swam over 5,000 miles to see her savior every year. Get your tissues ready, this wholesome animal video is going to have you in tears before breakfast. Enjoy!

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  • 01
    Penguin Makes a 5,000 Mile Swim Every Year to Thank Her Lifesaver ATA In 2011, João Pereira found a stranded, oil-covered penguin on the beach near his home in Rio de Janeiro..
    via humanityexpress
  • 02
    Penguin Makes a 5,000 Mile Swim Every Year to Thank Her Lifesaver→ João cleaned and nursed the penguin back to health over several days, naming him Dindim.
    via humanityexpress

    Dindum! What a unique name, although seems like an appropriate name for a penguin. How can we convince Dindum to visit us also?

  • 03
    Penguin Makes a 5,000 Mile Swim Every Year to Thank Her Lifesaver João cleaned and nursed the penguin back to health over several days, naming him Dindim.
    via humanityexpress
  • 04
    Penguin Makes a 5,000 Mile Swim Every Year to Thank Her Lifesaver→ To João's surprise, Dindim returned to visit him just a few months later..
    via humanityexpress

    Can you imagine how cool it would be to have a penguin swim 5,000 miles to visit you every year?? That's literally our dream. What a great story to tell.

  • 05
    Penguin Makes a 5,000 Mile Swim Every Year to Thank Her Lifesaver→ And continued to return each year..
    via humanityexpress
  • 06
    Penguin Makes a 5,000 Mile Swim Every Year to Thank Her Lifesaver→ Dindim swims over 5,000 miles from Patagonia to Brazil annually to reunite with João..
    via humanityexpress
  • 07
    Penguin Makes a 5,000 Mile Swim Every Year to Thank Her Lifesaver João considers Dindim his best friend and credits their bond with bringing joy and purpose to his life.
    via humanityexpress
  • 08
    Penguin Makes a 5,000 Mile Swim Every Year to Thank Her Lifesaver® João considers Dindim his best friend and credits their bond with bringing joy and purpose to his life.
    via humanityexpress
  • 09
    humanityexpress 4w He rescued the South American Magellanic penguin, spent a week cleaning its sticky feathers, nursed him to health and named him Dindim, before setting him free in the wild, according to the Daily Mail.
    via humanityexpress
  • 10
    But several months later, Joao Pereira was shocked to see that Dindim had returned to the island, and even more stunned when the penguin seemed to recognize his savior and waddled home with him. Now, it seems the two have formed a lifelong bond. For the past four years, that same penguin has traveled 5,000 miles every year to return to that same spot.
    via humanityexpress
  • 11
    "I love the penguin like it's my own child and I believe the penguin loves me," Joao Pereira de Souza, a 71-year- old retired bricklayer, told Globo TV. "No one else is allowed to touch him. He pecks them if they do. Hey lays on my lap, lets me give him showers, allows me to feed him sardines and to pick him up." And he's just as protective as a pet dog, the Wall Street Journal reports; he won't let any other animals get anywhere near de Souza
    via humanityexpress
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    nothanks10864 4w I pray you both live a long healthy life
    via nothanks10864
  • 13
    erickk36 4w The heart would travel a thousand miles for the right person
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    robertn2010 4w You don't get many better stories than this. Fantastic. Best wishes from New Zealand.
    via robertn2010
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    naab5590 4w Animals are so kind than human more
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    ricardofaithpeacelove 3w One day it will be their last time together. One will die before the other. Both outcomes are heartbreaking.
    via ricardofaithpeacelove
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    hattvall 1w Hope restored
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    shari.e.rogers 4w Humans can learn so much from animals- they are so pure
    via shari.e.rogers
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    plateroandrews 4w This is beautiful. Sad how restricted peoples minds are thinking only a few animals can form bonds, loyalty, love. It's just not the dog and pony show out there folks! Open up.
    via plateroandrews
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    donna.green096 4w How wonderful, Wouldn't be amazing if we all treated Animals with love & respect One day..
    via donna.green096
  • 21
    cynnac 4w I'm not crying at this beautiful story...❤
    via cynnac
  • 22
    rebelvaldez 4w Animals have heart a great memory and appreciation OGO
    via rebelvaldez
  • 23
    whutupcraaig 4w Why can't me like that happen to
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    kelly.devalle 1w When you find good people its worth it
    via kelly.devalle
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    via humanityexpress

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oil spill wholesome adorable heartwarming kindhearted penguins emotional friends cute animals cute swimming saved connection save feathers animals rescue
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