“I always get really emotional when the pebbles go in,” said Rebecca Parr, who works for the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland.

Every mating season, penguins carefully search for the perfect smooth stone. They offer it as a symbolic gift that strengthens pair bonds, helps build nests, and signals commitment in the wild.

Adorable photos show penguins collecting pebbles painted by children in hospital. The practice, known as pebbling, marks the start of the breeding season for Gentoo penguins. Penguins were seen ...