Prostitution may be the "oldest profession", but it is apparently not limited to humans. Australia's ABC News has reported a wildlife expert as saying that he has witnessed the practice among the Adelie penguins of the Antarctic coast.

Adelies build their nests from small stones, which are therefore highly prized at breeding time in colonies as big as the one pictured. Theft of stones is common, but some entrerprising females have hit on a new way of getting hold of a supply.

On the fringes of the colony, the young males who have not yet found a mate are doubtless sexually frustrated, but they have the advantage of ready access to large numbers of stones from outside the colony. They therefore collect piles of the best stones, with which they buy sexual favours from the breeding females who visit them with the sole purpose of getting hold of a stone. The going rate appears to be one good stone per shag.

In this trade, everyone's a winner. Except perhaps for the male penguin back at the nest who might be wondering (a) why the missus is looking so VERY pleased with herself when she gets back with a stone, (b) why she has taken so long getting it, and (c) why she keeps complaining about a headache when he suggests that they have an early night.

(Source: Private Eye No. 1205)