Penguins were classified as divorced if their partner from the prior breeding season reappeared in the colony but with a new mate. It’s not just moaning about penguins’ moral decline. While divorcing may allow individual penguins to find a ‘higher quality’ mate, if lots of couples split up at the same time it’s not great.

A little penguin colony in Australia struggles during years with high penguin divorce rates, but the divorcees could have more offspring in the long run if they find better mates, a new study finds.

Little penguins on Phillip Island divorce partners after poor breeding seasons, impacting colony reproductive success.