Endangered Penguins

Endangered Penguins - Galapagos penguin

The Galapagos penguins which are found only on the Galapagos Islands are listed as Endangered.  Galapagos penguins are easily the most northerly of all penguins living right on the equator. With the development of the Galapagos Islands over the last few years there has been a reduction in the number of these small birds. How serious this reduction is remains to be seen.

The very small population currently estimated to be around 1,500 breeding pairs has been falling steadily over the last 30 years and has reached a stage where there is a real danger of extinction unless action is taken.  The main threats are overfishing, reducing food stocks as well as human disturbance of nesting sites both from population pressure and tourism. In addition, in early 2001, a major oil spill was threatened, but largely due to favourable weather conditions, was averted.

http://www.adelie.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/Endangered/DANGER.htm

   An endangered species is an animal that is dying out (their total population is decreasing). Penguins have been endangered for a long time for many reasons. Some reasons make complete sense, for instance, man-made pollution destroying food sources. Others are surprising, such as deforestation. But there are also a lot of ways people are trying to prevent penguins from becoming extinct.

Oil Spills

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These Humboldt penguins are covered in oil from a recent oil spill. International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW -- www.ifaw.org) /J. Hrusa |

    Oil spills are probably the biggest problems for penguins. The oil gets on their feathers and they get it in their beaks when they preen. Since they don't fly and must surface often to breathe, penguins are unable to avoid being coated if oil is on the surface of the water. Also their eggs will contain traces of oil in them too. This is a problem because it either kills the embryo inside or the oil deforms the developing chick. Penguins cannot see the oil coming and...