Falklands Conservation

Manageress of Port Howard Lodge Jackie Jennings said, 'It is very disturbing, penguins are literally lying on the beach and dying, surrounded by swarms of scavenging gulls'. The picture on New Island is no brighter. The large gentoo colony at the North End of New Island normally holds 5,500 breeding pairs of penguins. This year eye-witness Kevin Schafer reported that there were 'only a few hundred birds on eggs left - and that these were being picked off very quickly by great flocks of skuas and caracaras. Large numbers of gentoos are coming ashore in a crippled state, unable to walk or even hold themselves upright'.

Teams of researchers from Falklands Conservation have been sent to several sites around the Islands to investigate the problem, including top wildlife destination Sea Lion Island. Working closely with the Falklands Veterinary Department and a team of specialist wildlife vets from the Wildlife Conservation Society a sampling protocol has been devised to take samples suitable for many different types of analysis. At present the causes are still unknown, however it seems that opinion is starting to favour a 'red tide' event, leading to poisoning of birds and top predators.

Red tides are caused by dinoflagellates, a microscopic red phytoplankton which blooms under certain conditions to dangerous levels in the water. These tiny plants are fed on by larger animals which concentrate the toxins in their tissues. When eaten by a larger predator such as a penguin, large numbers of these animals can prove fatal. Recently, a red tide algal bloom has led to the closure of several shellfisheries along the Patagonian coast, from the Santa Cruz coast to Chubut.

As well as researchers on the ground investigating the penguins, Andy Black, of the Falklands Conservation Seabirds at Sea Team, is joining a research trip on the Dorada with some specialist sampling kit to look for this toxic algae in the water. It is hoped that this will either confirm or rule this out as an option. In the meantime, Falklands Conservation continue to monitor the state of the Islands' penguins and appreciate information from anyone about penguin populations at this time.

Starving Falkland Penguins
Penguin Census 2000/01 Results
Falkland Penguins
Penguin Appeal

Map Showing Locations of Reported Penguin Deaths

1: Saunders Island - Some Penguin deaths reported 2: Volunteer Point - Small numbers dying 3: New Island - Thousands of Gentoos dead at North end 4: Beaver Island - Some deaths reported 5: Fox Bay - Massive mortality - 500 dead Gentoos and similar numbers of cormorants. Kelp Gulls also affected 6: Port Edgar - 150 to 200 penguins dead 7: Albemarle - Penguins Dying 8: Port Stephens - 50+ dead Gentoos. Sea Lions not returning as usual 9: South Harbour - 73 dead penguins found on beach 10: Sealion Island - Penguins dying 11: Carcass Island - Many dead Gentoos and Magellanics. Symptoms of partial paralysis, loss of mobility and failure to hold their heads up.

• Contact us?
• Return to Index?