This is the heartwarming moment a stranded penguin chick was safely returned to its parent by a polar explorer.

Russian scientists rescued the baby emperor penguin after it became stuck below its colony and risked freezing to death near the Mirny research station on the Haswell Islands in Antarctica.

The flightless bird was discovered struggling at the bottom of a snowy slope, unable to climb back up to join the huddle of penguins above on September 16.

Footage shows one of the rescuers gently picking up the chick and releasing it back at the top of the slope.

The young emperor penguin can be seen gliding straight to the colony, safely reuniting with its parent.

The huddle is where chicks gather together for warmth and protection from the wind, while adults take turns leaving to fish before returning to feed the young.

The emperor penguin, the largest penguin species found in Antarctica, can grow up to 4 ft (1.2 m) tall. They breed in winter, with males incubating a single egg for 2–3 months while chicks stay warm in huddles, and feed on fish, squid, and krill.

These animals face predators like leopard seals, orcas, and skuas, and are currently listed as Near Threatened due to climate change.