Around 2,000 young Magellanic penguins have been found dead on the coast of Uruguay over the past ten days, according to authorities. The cause of death remains unknown, but it has been observed that nine out of ten of the penguins were juveniles with empty stomachs and depleted fat reserves. Tests conducted on the animals have confirmed that the deaths are not linked to bird flu.
Although a similar mass death of penguins occurred in Brazil last year, the current situation is unusual in terms of the number of dead birds. Carmen Leizagoyen, the head of the Environmental Ministry’s Department of Fauna, stated that while it is normal for some percentage of penguins to die, the current numbers are far from typical. Environmental NGOs have suggested that overfishing may be to blame for the deaths, pointing to the starving condition of the penguins. This problem has allegedly been ongoing since the 1990s, according to Richard Tesoro of the NGO Marine Wildlife Rescue. He noted that other marine species, such as petrels, albatrosses, sea lions, sea turtles, and seagulls, have also been found washed up on the beaches in Uruguay’s Maldonado region, indicating a larger ecological issue.
Furthermore, the recent occurrence of a subtropical cyclone off southeastern Brazil might have worsened the situation for the already weakened penguins. Normally, Magellanic penguins migrate northwards from their nesting ground in southern Argentina in search of food and warmer waters. However, the mass die-off in recent years highlights the challenges they face during the journey.
In 2019, more than 300 Magellanic penguins died during an extreme heatwave in Punta Tombo, one of their largest breeding colonies in Argentina’s Chubut Province. The high temperatures, reaching 111.2 degrees Fahrenheit (44 degrees Celsius), prevented many of the birds from reaching the sea in time to cool themselves, leading to dehydration and death. Similarly, hundreds of little blue penguins washed up on the shores of New Zealand last year due to starvation, as the fish they typically feed on had moved to deeper waters because of rising temperatures. While some attributed these events to climate change, others argued that they were part of a natural cycle.
The deaths of these Magellanic penguins highlight the vulnerability of marine wildlife to the effects of overfishing, extreme weather events, and climate change. Urgent action is needed to address these issues and protect these species from further harm. It is crucial to regulate fishing practices, preserve marine ecosystems, and mitigate the impacts of climate change to ensure the survival of these iconic and endangered creatures.
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