When an elderly Brazilian fisherman picked up an endangered penguin he found out from that moment the penguin he befriended would end up being his best pal for life. Now his feathered friend swims at least 5000 miles every year to see his Brazilian saviour who nursed him back into his to his normal self.

The ex-bricklayer and part-time fisherman Joao Pereira de Souza rescued the penguin when finding him on rocks back in 2011.

His waddling friend was starved and covered in oil and Mr de Souza spent a week cleaning the poor penguin’s feathers.

He named his black and white friend Dindim and helped the penguin regain its strength by feeding it fish before realising Dindim back into the sea.

The loving penguin did not leave his friend but stayed for 11 months in Mr de Souza’s village located near Rio de Janeiro. Although the penguin did disappear after its feathers grew back it returned the following June.

The penguin has now returned 5 times and every time stays for up to 8 months before leaving again and returning back to the artic.