The gentoo penguin has become the first bird to test positive for the H5N1 bird flu on an Australian territory, with samples confirming the virus has spread on a sub-Antarctic island. The deadly and contagious strain of bird flu, which has already killed millions of seabirds, wild birds and poultry overseas, was confirmed in southern […]
Tag: penguins
60,000 African penguins starved to death after sardine numbers collapsed – study
More than 60,000 penguins in colonies off the coast of South Africa have starved to death as a result of disappearing sardines, a new paper has found. More than 95% of the African penguins in two of the most important breeding colonies, on Dassen Island and Robben Island, died between 2004 and 2012. The breeding […]
Ocean’s most powerful, ruthless killers: The world’s top 9 marine predators that rule the waves
In the ocean, everything relies on tiny plankton.These provide nutrients for animals at the bottom of the food web which are eaten by larger species, and so on. At the top of the food chain, large predators (often with huge teeth) have perfected their hunting strategies for millennia, giving them the best possible chance to […]
Pressure grows for release of penguins ‘trapped’ at London aquarium
Dozens of British lawmakers have called for the release of 15 penguins “trapped” at a London aquarium without access to daylight or fresh air, saying their living conditions are “utterly unacceptable.” The 15 Gentoo penguins are housed in an enclosure at the Sea Life London Aquarium, located next to the River Thames, a short distance […]
36 extraordinary, astonishing bird facts, including a bird that has killed humans, a bird that likes to get drunk and one that can fly backwards
Did you know flamingoes are pink on the inside as well as the outside? Or how about the wild bird that’s over 70 years old? And have you ever wondered why woodpeckers don’t get concussion from their never-ending pecking? We’ve rounded up some of the most extraordinary facts about birds and their fascinating world….. 32 […]
Antarctic conservation summit closes with stalemate on MPAs & krill fishing rules
The annual meeting of the international body responsible for conservation of the marine ecosystems in the Southern Ocean concluded on Friday with no progress on two contentious issues before it: the creation of new marine protected areas and the strengthening of regulations governing krill (Euphausia superba) fishing. The 44th meeting of the Commission for the […]
Antarctic krill: how did a paperclip-sized crustacean cause a diplomatic row – and why are they so important?
Antarctic krill are small, shrimp-like marine crustaceans (Euphausia superba). They feed on plankton and are the main food source for larger marine animals. The word “krill” comes from the Norwegian word “kril” meaning the small fry of fish. Why are they so important in Antarctica? In the Antarctic, they are the key species upon which […]
Penguin Droppings May Be Seeding Clouds, Study Finds
Penguin droppings may play a role in the formation of clouds over Antarctica, new research finds. Penguins produce an enormous volume of excrement, or guano, so much that last year four colonies of emperor penguins were discovered after researchers spotted their droppings in satellite images. Such massive quantities of guano are a major source of […]