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Meet help the fake penguins research

November 4th, 2014 at 17:28 clock Updated GMT

A remotely operated vehicle dressed chick has allowed researchers to collect data from the emperors of the notoriously shy penguins.

And close to the birds, the diminutive Rover also much less influence on the behavior of the penguins had been hit by a man.

Scientists say the unusual approach provides "least invasive and burdensome way to gather data on these species."

The results are published in the journal Nature Methods .

Here is the Principal Investigator, Dr. Yvon Le Maho of the National Centre for Scientific Research in Strasbourg, France, who led the study, described the response to the false emperor penguin chicks.

Videos: Spy in the Huddle / John Downer Productions / BBC