Endangered Magellanic Penguins Found Dead on Uruguayan Beach: A Grim Result of Climate Change
Key Points:
- Magellanic penguins, classified as endangered since 2004, continue to face death as their habitat and food sources are impacted by global warming and pollution.
- Last July, over 2,000 emaciated and malnourished Magellanic penguins were discovered washed ashore on a beach in Uruguay.
- Their sad state, with no fat reserves and empty stomachs, points to starvation as the cause of death.
- These penguins, mostly young, are just the latest victims in a series of alarming mass penguin deaths that began in 2010.
The Plight of the Magellanic Penguins
Among the 18 species of penguins worldwide, the Magellanic penguins are named after the famous Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan, who encountered them during his South American expedition. These fascinating creatures can be found along the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of North America, including Argentina, Chile, and the Falkland Islands.
Magellanic penguins possess a black body with a white belly, a coloration that helps them blend into the ocean waters and protect themselves from predators. Equipped with webbed feet, elongated fins for swimming, and hair for insulation against the frigid temperatures of their habitat, these penguins exemplify the resilience of nature.
These penguins have a troubling problem – they face multiple threats to their survival, including chronic oil pollution in the sea. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List estimates that 20,000 Magellanic penguins have succumbed to oil pollution. Moreover, the overarching issue of climate change exacerbates their plight by flooding their habitats and depleting their food sources.
A Grim Outcome and Ongoing Concerns
Scientists and environmental experts suggest that global warming, with its increasingly severe storms, is a significant factor contributing to penguin deaths. However, the latest incident in July serves as a chilling reminder that this is not an isolated event. Over the past three decades, hundreds of Magellanic penguins have washed up dead on the east coast of South America.
Reports reveal that in 2010, approximately 500 penguins died in Brazil due to a lack of food. Furthermore, in 2012, 700 Magellanic penguins were found starving on the same beach, and in 2019, more than 300 perished due to excessively hot weather.
The recent mass deaths have raised concerns among experts. Carmen Leizagoyen, an official with the Uruguayan environment ministry, emphasized that the bodies of the deceased penguins had no fat reserves and completely empty stomachs, indicating prolonged starvation.
Analysis also showed the disappearance of the vital fat on the penguins’ fur, which serves as protection against the cold, especially for the young penguins.
The Dire Impact of Climate Change
This tragic incident highlights the urgent need to address the impact of climate change on various marine animals, not just Magellanic penguins. Sea birds, turtles, and sea lions were also found lifeless, devoid of fat and food in their stomachs, suggesting a widespread scarcity of food in the seas.
Rescate de Fauna Marina (SOS), an animal welfare organization, has identified large fisheries in the South Atlantic Ocean as a major contributor to the escalating deaths of marine animals. Climate change’s adverse effects on offshore currents and storm patterns further compound the problem.
Despite ongoing research and awareness, concrete steps to prevent further starvation and a potential extinction crisis for these animals remain elusive. It is crucial for all stakeholders to acknowledge the critical role of global warming as a variable leading to the gradual disappearance of life on our planet.
References: The National News, National Geographic, Rescate de Fauna Marina (SOS), and Sciencealert.
Key points:
Magellanic penguins have been listed as endangered since 2004, but their deaths are still being reported. More than 2,000 Magellanic penguins washed ashore on a beach in Uruguay last July, grumpy and bored. which experts believe could starve to death One of the reasons why Magellan penguins are deprived of food is a problem with “global warming” causing more storms and sweeping their food away from u habitats.
Questions about global environmental problems have arisen once again. After the end of July, the remains were found.Magellanic penguins” or “Magellanic penguinsMore than 2,000 birds washed ashore on the beach of Uruguay in an unusual state of emaciated And from the inspection that more than 90 percent of those penguins. There are no fat reserves in the body and there is no food left in the stomach.
Unfortunately, these penguins are very young. And this is not the first time penguins have died in large numbers. But the problem started in 2010 and may have contributed to the decline in the Magellanic penguin population.
Know the “Magellan Penguins” Named after Explorers
forMagellanic penguinsIt is one of 18 species of penguins worldwide. They are named after the Portuguese explorer. “Ferdinand Magellan” happened to meet them while exploring South America. Since then, they have been reported to be found throughout the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of North America. including in Argentina, Chile and the Falkland Islands.
Magellanic penguins have a black body but a white belly. to protect themselves from predators in the sea Because when they dive into the water, their black body helps them blend into the ocean waters. The feet are webbed and the fins are elongated to facilitate swimming. Including covering with hair to create warmth for the body. Because their habitat is very cold.
Magellanic penguins usually lay only 2 eggs on average, and their main diet is small fish such as anchovies and sardines. They migrate north during the winter.
Magellanic penguins have a worrying problem. They are among the penguin species facing serious threats to their survival, such as chronic oil pollution in the sea. The IUCN Red List estimates that 20,000 Magellanic penguins have died from oil pollution. And the biggest problem is “Climate change” because it will lead to damage to their habitat from being flooded. It also left them with no food to eat.
Is “global warming” one of the variations of penguin deaths litter?
Of such problems, scientists predict that Part of it can come fromglobal warming” with more and more violence But this is not the first time.penguin“Many people are stuck and dying at the same time. According to The National News, information from environmental experts has been presented.Magellanic penguinsIt is a group animal. They have been “near threatened” since 2004, and over the past 30 years, hundreds of them have probably washed up dead on the east coast of South America.
And this is not the first time that remains of “Magellan’s penguins” are washed up on the beach in large numbers. In 2010, around 500 penguins died on a beach in Brazil due to lack of food. In 2012, around 700 Magellan penguins were found starving on the same beach, and in 2019, more than 300 penguins were found dead from the hot weather.
Although the tragic events surrounding the deaths of Magellan penguins have occurred over the years, But for the latest incident in July, Carmen Leizagoyen (Carmen Leizagoyen), an official with the Uruguayan environment ministry, said that the bodies of those penguins have no fat reserves at all . and their stomachs were empty as if they had been starving for a long time.
The analysis also revealed that the fat on the penguins’ fur had disappeared. This fat is an important factor that protects them from cold weather. especially in young penguins
deathMagellanic penguinsThis time, experts see it as a very worrying issue. A cyclone off the coast of Uruguay swept away the penguins’ food elsewhere. causing them to starve and get weaker and weaker until finally starving to death
It’s not just the penguins. But there were sea birds, turtles, and sea lions with their bodies devoid of fat and food in their stomachs. It is believed that the sea today may be in a state of food shortage.
An important factor that the Rescate de Fauna Marina (SOS) or the animal welfare organization sees is causing the massive increase in marine animal deaths. It comes from large fisheries in the South Atlantic Ocean. and the negative effects of climate change on offshore currents. It can also be associated with storms.
Although there is constant death of aquatic animals. But at the moment, there is still no clear answer and steps to be taken. In order not to let these animals starve to death and may lead to extinction in the future. But one thing that many parties should be aware of is the effect of “global warming” which can be called an important variable that makes life in our world gradually Disappeared.
References: The National News, National Geographic, Rescate de Fauna Marina (SOS) and Sciencealert.
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