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Penguins are insanely resilient—and these explorers are revealing their secrets

Penguins are insanely resilient—and these explorers are revealing their secrets

Borboroglu's initiatives to create protected areas for penguins have helped conserve some 32 million acres of habitat, on land and at sea. Now 55, he takes inspiration from the birds' resilience—the way they swim hundreds of thousands of miles for food, avoid predators and pollution, and survive in environments increasingly impacted by climate change. 'When you see penguins making that big effort,' he reflects, 'you say, How can I give up?'
Being recognized as an Explorer of the Year alongside his filmmaker friend, Borboroglu says, is 'fantastic … a great combination of different kinds of explorers and expertise.'
At first, Gregory says, he was hesitant to make a documentary about penguins. The Emmy-winning host of the Disney+ series Animals Up Close, who has shot for iconic series like Planet Earth and Frozen Planet, knew that filming in penguins' harsh habitats would be tough—and worried the species was already plenty documented. 'If you're going to make a series called Secrets of the Penguins,' he says, 'you've got to show people something they've never seen before.'
But Gregory embraced the challenge. To film one of the series' three episodes, he camped for more than two months near an emperor penguin colony in Antarctica's Atka Bay. He was documenting a critical phase in a penguin's life cycle, when juveniles, abandoned by their parents, are left to figure out how to become a 'proper adult penguin,' getting themselves to the ocean to swim and hunt.
Gregory succeeded spectacularly in capturing behaviors never before filmed, including footage of hundreds of young emperor penguins entering the sea by 'BASE jumping' off a 50-foot cliff. 'I really think it's going to blow people's minds,' he says. 'I thought I knew what penguins' limits were. I was wrong.'
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Disney World is closing some classic rides to build its biggest land ever
Disney World is closing some classic rides to build its biggest land ever

Fast Company

time8 hours ago

  • Fast Company

Disney World is closing some classic rides to build its biggest land ever

Several attractions at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom park are now closed to guests in order to make room for a new land that's being developed, Piston Peak National Park. The impacted attractions are located in Frontierland and Liberty Square. To make space for the park expansion, the following attractions are permanently closed: Rivers of America Tom Sawyer Island Liberty Square Riverboat Inspired by America's national parks Magic Kingdom's brand-new Piston Peak National Park area will be wilderness-themed. Disney has said the land is inspired by the Rocky Mountains and the history and scenery of the American frontier and its national parks. The fictional national park will feature a Disney and Pixar Cars -themed universe. According to Disney, it will be the largest expansion in the Magic Kingdom's history. Disney explained some plans for the new land in a June 2025 Disney Parks Blog post. The company shared the following: 'Inside Piston Peak, guests will be able to see and explore the visitor lodge, Ranger HQ, trails, and more, all set within the Disney and Pixar Cars universe.' The post continued: 'To make sure these buildings fit naturally within the surrounding majestic landscapes, Imagineers are using a style of architecture called 'Parkitecture,' which was developed by the National Park Service to create structures that harmonize with the natural environment.' Fast Company contacted Disney for more information. No opening date has been announced yet. More coming to Disney's Magic Kingdom Piston Peak National Park isn't the only renovation currently underway at the Magic Kingdom. In January 2025, Frontierland's Big Thunder Mountain Railroad temporarily closed for renovations. The roller coaster is set to reopen in 2026. Here are a few more expansions coming to Disney's Magic Kingdom: A nighttime parade experience, ' Disney Starlight,' will debut on July 20. A new pirate-themed tavern, The Beak and Barrel, is set to open in late 2025, and will serve food and nonalcoholic and alcoholic drinks. 'Villain's Land,' a Disney villain-themed park addition featuring attractions, dining, and shopping experiences, will be built. No opening date has been announced.

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