Baby penguin jumps on man’s belly

A PHOTOGRAPHER got more than he bargained for when a baby penguin climbed onto his stomach and got a bit too close for comfort!

MUST NOT PUBLISH BEFORE MIDNIGHT FRIDAY 3RD APRIL MUST CREDIT PICTURE MEDIA PIC FROM CATERS NEWS - (PICTURED: Joel even manages to take a selfie with the penguin ) - A photographer got more than he bargained for when a baby penguin decided to jump on him in this adorable video. Joel Oleson, 41, was on a work trip to Antarctica when he was approached by the baby penguin. But instead of just pecking his feet and walking by, the chick climbed onto his stomach and got a bit too close for comfort! In the unbelievable footage, IT worker Joel can be seen welcoming the little penguin and then gasping in shock as it jumps up onto his stomach. He met the over-friendly penguin after his guide took him to a penguin rookery with thousands of penguins. SEE CATERS COPY.

A PHOTOGRAPHER got more than he bargained for when a baby penguin decided to jump on him.

Joel Oleson, 41, was on a work trip to Antarctica when he was approached by the baby penguin.

But instead of just pecking his feet and walking by, the chick climbed onto his stomach and got a bit too close for comfort!

In the unbelievable footage, IT worker Joel can be seen welcoming the little penguin and then gasping in shock as it jumps up onto his stomach.

He met the over-friendly penguin after his guide took him to a penguin rookery with thousands of penguins.

Money shot ... Joel even manages to take a selfie with the penguin. Picture: Picture Media from Caters News

Joel, from California, said: “The parents of the baby penguins were stand offish, but the baby penguins weren’t afraid at all.

“Our guide said we shouldn’t approach the penguins, but if they came to us, it was ok.

“He gave us a tip saying if we crouched down, they would be less afraid.

“I decided that, despite the penguin poo, if I laid down and was completely still then they would be the least afraid.

“Sure enough they were not afraid and were very curious too.

Gorgeous ... the baby penguin that got attached to Joel. Picture: Picture Media from Caters News

“After a couple minutes the baby penguins surrounded me and one of them was pecking at my head and jumped on my face and another crawled up on my side and lay on my chest.

“It was an incredible experience.

Taking over ... Joel gets up close and personal with a baby penguin. Picture: Picture Media from Caters News

“At first I was thinking, ‘this is so cool’ — I can’t believe this is happening.

“After he started pecking my face I realised that it hurt and he may draw blood!

“But it was so amazing I needed to just let it play out and capture it on video.

Cute and friendly ... the penguin on his stomach. Picture: Picture Media from Caters News

“We were very careful to be environmentally friendly while we were there.

“To even get to Antarctica all of us signed forms to become researchers through a Chilean program.

“We wore special protective clothing, including over boots and gloves and every piece of trash that came in came back out.

Not letting go ... the adorable baby penguin. Picture: Picture Media from Caters News

“We paid very special attention to our guide who was specially trained to help guide people in the harshest of conditions.

“This was incredible. I knew it was going to be other worldly, but this tops the charts. I love my experience there.”

On the trip with colleagues sponsored by software company Avepoint, Joel also witnessed glaciers, penguins racing alongside the group’s boat, and massive elephant seals.