Penguins
Everyone loves penguins. I have yet to meet an individual who does not enjoy them. Penguins are terrible creatures. They can be extremely cruel to one another even though they live in colonies. Many types of penguins reside on their own feces which makes their homes quite fragrant. While penguins can be moronic in one instance they can be remarkably intelligent, expressive, and caring in the next.
Perhaps the traits formerly mentioned are why we humans love penguins so much. I myself cannot remove the emotional connection I feel with these great creatures. Penguins endure conditions we can only imagine and there is still much we have to learn about them. I've been given many opportunities to be in the presence of penguins and each time is as extraordinary as the first.