A wildlife photographer managed to capture a tender moment between two widowed penguins comforting each other as they look out at a nighttime vista, and it might just be the most adorable thing the internet has thrown at us.
Tobias Baumgaertner photographed the two animals in the Melbourne suburb of St Kilda back in 2019, but it wasn't until yesterday that the incredible snap went viral after it was shared on Twitter.
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When he shared it on his own Instagram page last month, Tobias explained the two penguins had apparently lost their respective partners, and had been watching the 'dancing lights' of the Melbourne skyline together.
He wrote: "During times like this the truly lucky ones are those that can be with the person/people they love most. I captured this moment about a year ago.
"These two Fairy penguins poised upon a rock overlooking the Melbourne skyline were standing there for hours, flipper in flipper, watching the sparkling lights of the skyline and ocean.
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"A volunteer approached me and told me that the white one was an elderly lady who had lost her partner and apparently so did the younger male to the left. Since then they meet regularly comforting each other and standing together for hours watching the dancing lights of the nearby city."
It may have taken Tobias three full nights to get the shot, but in the end he came out with the incredible image.
Tobias continued: "I spent three full nights with this penguin colony until I was able to get this picture. Between not being able or allowed to use any lights and the tiny penguins continuously moving, rubbing their flippers on each other's backs and cleaning one another, it was really hard to get a shot but I got lucky during one beautiful moment. I hope you enjoy this moment as much as I did."
I think it's safe to say we do - after the image was shared on Twitter it racked up more than 125,000 likes in just one day, along with more than 39,000 retweets.
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The original poster wrote: "Couldn't stop thinking about these penguins enjoying the Melbourne skyline together so I found the original photographer and apparently they're BOTH WIDOWED I can't handle it."
Someone else commented: "Wasn't planning on crying tonight, but thanks."
You can head over to Tobias' Instagram page to not only see the amazing photo of the two penguins, but also many other stunning wildlife and nature snaps - which are available as prints if you contact him via his website: tobiasvisuals.com.
Featured Image Credit: Tobias Baumgaertner/@tobiasvisuals
Topics: Viral, News, penguins, Animals
