Generally speaking, all animals are spectacular, but there’s just something special about the wild ones that words cannot describe properly. Maybe it’s the fact that we do not get to see them on a regular basis, hence coming face to face with them is a truly extraordinary experience. Unfortunately, the modern world hasn’t given its […]
Tag: Magellanic Penguin
Dead in their nests or washed ashore: why thousands of seabirds are dying en masse
Twenty years ago, David Grémillet, a seabird ecologist, watched in dismay as a heatwave hit a breeding colony of Cape gannets in Lambert’s Bay, South Africa, causing dozens of birds to keel over. An unseasonably hot wind sent temperatures to 40C (104F), too intense even for the heat-adapted birds. While guarding their nests, they baked […]
Nearly 600 Dead Penguins Washed Up in Brazil After Deadly Cyclone
Over 600 penguins washed ashore in Brazil after a deadly cyclone hit the southern Brazilian state of Santa Catarina last week. Around 622 penguins washed up on the beach, and a heartbreaking 596 of them were dead. Heartbreaking images were released of the dead penguins lying lined up on the sand. The subtropical cyclone tore […]
Argentina creates two new marine parks to protect penguins, sea lions
Argentina has officially created two large marine protected areas: the Yaganes Marine National Park, lying off of the country’s southern tip, and the Namuncurá-Burdwood Bank II Marine National Park in the South Atlantic. Together, the two parks cover a total area of about 98,000 square kilometers (37,000 square miles). By designating these two marine parks, […]
Protecting the penguins of Patagonia
“It is with some consternation that seabird biologists return to colonies they haven’t visited for many years. The hand of man has seen many colonies around the world dwindle or even vanish.” Fortunately, for some species a little conservation goes a long way. Esteban Frere, South America Coordinator for BirdLife’s Marine Programme, started his career […]