King Penguin

In the Falklands, King penguins are at the northerly limit of their global range. Early records suggest that numbers were never very high, but by 1870 they had been almost exterminated, killed for their oil and beautiful feathers. By 1971 they had returned and have steadily increased in numbers since then. This is a worldwide trend, with numbers increasing throughout their entire range. It is thought that the population expansion in the Falklands may be due to overcrowding at South Georgia.

Gentoo Penguin

The Falklands are critical for the survival of this circumpolar species with an average of over 30% of the world population. Numbers fluctuate from year to year but over a 75-year period have remained relatively stable at 100,000 pairs. In 2000 Falklands Conservation recorded a total of 113,000 pairs at 101 different breeding sites around the Islands. In 2005 (last full Falklands count) numbers had been cut dramatically by a poisonous algal bloom in 2002/03, but by 2007 there are signs of a strong recovery in numbers.

Rockhopper Penguin

There has been a dramatic decline (estimated at 85%) in the population of Rockhoppers over at least the past 75 years. In 1995, Falklands Conservation counted 300,000 breeding pairs (600,000 birds); in 2005 this number was down to 210,400 pairs. The reasons for this decline are not yet fully understood and are in line with similar reductions in other crested penguin populations elsewhere in the world (Auckland, Antipodes and Campbell Islands).

A detailed analysis is available to subscribers of Waterbirds (www.waterbirds.org/journal.htm) entitled: Re-evaluation of Historical Rockhopper Penguin Population Data in the Falkland Islands by Klemens Putz, Andrea P Clausen, Nic Huin and John P Croxall. Ref: Waterbirds 26 (2): 169-175, 2003

Many Rockhopper penguins were poisoned by the Harmful Algal Bloom of 2002/03. It is thought that changes in ocean productivity and temperatures, possibly driven by climate change, prevent recovery from such population crashes.

Falklands Conservation continues to actively research, monitor and protect this special bird, which has been adopted for its symbol in the charity’s logo.

The Rockhopper Penguin had been considered as a single species throughout its circum-polar range, where it breeds on sub-Antarctic oceanic islands in the Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean and to the south of New Zealand. Birds from the three areas show differences in appearance notably in size, length of the crest plumes, the underside of the flipper and the skin colour at the birds gape.

Following new research recently reviewed by BirdLife International, who manage the species red list of birds on behalf of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, there is sufficient evidence to split Rockhopper penguins into two separate distinct species, the Southern Rockhopper Penguin, which breeds in the Falklands, and the Northern Rockhopper Penguin which breeds on Tristan da Cunha, Gough, Amsterdam and Saint Paul Islands.

The Southern Rockhopper will remain as one species but 2 sub-species will continue to be recognised. Eudyptes chrysocome chrysocome breeds in the Falklands and the Cape Horn Islands, whilst Eudyptes chrysocome filholi breeds on Marion, Crozet, Kerguelen, Heard, Macquarie, Campbell, Auckland and Antipodes Islands.

Total world populations of the species will now have to be recalculated and the declines which have been occurring throughout the range reconsidered under set IUCN criteria to determine the conservation status of the new species. The Rockhopper Penguin has up to now been classified as "Vulnerable". By taking out the populations around Tristan da Cunha (which until recently had been stable) and following the significant declines in the Falklands it may be that the Southern Rockhopper Penguin is of heightened "Endangered" conservation concern.

It means that the Falklands now hold a higher percentage of the world population of Southern Rockhopper Penguin. A reduction in species range, limited to fewer islands means that the species may now be more susceptible to localised events such as the poisonous algal red-tide that occurred in 2002/03 in the Falklands. Limited range species, and especially island species have always been far more susceptible to extinction as they cannot move to avoid environmental risks and pressures.

Macaroni Penguin

In the Falklands, Marcaroni penguins are at the northerly limit of their global range. It is the most numerous penguin species in the world, but only a tiny proportion come to the Islands to breed, where they nest within Rockhopper penguin colonies (at 19 sites in the 2005 census). More than 80% of these are on the eastern coasts of the Falklands, closest to South Georgia which holds the majority of the global population (2.7 million pairs). They are likely to be susceptible to environmental change as the Rockhopper penguin.

Magellanic Penguin

The Falklands hold about 10% of the world population of this species, which is widely distributed around the extensive coastline of the archipelago. It is also found all around the coasts of southern South America. There are concerns that accidental oil spills, discharge of waste by vessels offshore, disturbance when nesting and shortage of food in some years are causing a decline in numbers.