The “Nihilist Penguin” or “Deranged Penguin” comes from a scene in a 2007 documentary by Werner Herzog. In the clip, one penguin suddenly leaves its group and starts walking alone toward the icy mountains—located several kilometers inland—rather than heading toward the ocean. This direction means certain death, as there is no food or shelter for penguins so far inland. Scientists say such behaviour is very rare and may be due to confusion or illness. The scene has gone viral because it feels deeply emotional and symbolic, making people reflect on loneliness, confusion, and the strange, sometimes fatal choices life can take.
