News
Thursday 29th January 2009
Northern rockhopper penguin head detail
The findings of a study published in Bird Conservation International this month have shown that the northern rockhopper penguin (Eudyptes moseleyi) has undergone a drastic decline. Comparisons of historical and current records indicate that well over a million penguins have been lost from the main breeding colonies on the islands of Gough and Tristan da Cunha. The situation is most serious on Gough Island, where over 90 percent of the population has vanished in just 50 yearsthe equivalent of losing 100 penguins a day.
The recent split of the rockhopper penguin into a southern and northern species has meant that the magnitude of the northern rockhopper penguins decline is only now being appreciated. While numerous explanations for the crash have been proposed, including climate change and overfishing, the exact causes remain unknown. Whatever the reason, the sheer scale of the loss is indicative that a major change in the marine ecosystem may be taking place.
It is imperative that scientists discover the cause of the northern rockhopper penguin population crash before it is too late. Since Gough Island and Tristan da Cunha are both British Overseas Territories, conservationists are looking to the UK government for support in this endeavour. However, despite meetings between ministers, a plan of action has yet to be agreed upon.
Like the northern rockhopper penguin, there are currently several other penguin species classified on the IUCN Red List as Endangered. See below to find out more about the plight of these charismatic birds:
Yellow-eyed penguin (Megadyptes antipodes)
Found only on New Zealand and surrounding coastal islands, the yellow-eyed penguin has suffered huge losses as a result of clearance of its coastal forest habitat for agriculture and livestock grazing, and from introduced predators. Although its numbers are still dangerously low, through the joint conservation efforts of the Yellow-eyed Penguin Trust and the New Zealand Department of Conservation, the yellow-eyed penguin is beginning to make a recovery.
Erect-crested penguin (Eudyptes sclateri)
Although still relatively abundant, the rapid decline of the erect-crested penguin by at least 50 percent over the last 45 years is a serious cause for concern. Like the northern rockhopper penguin, the cause of the population crash has yet to be determined, but may be linked to changes in the marine ecosystem.
Galapagos penguin (Spheniscus mendiculus)
The Galapagos penguin is the most northerly of all penguins, occurring on the Galapagos Islands, on the equator. As a result of fluctuations in food supply, which are compounded by El Ni𭟥vents, this species has suffered catastrophic declines and, with a population of only 1,770 individuals, is the worlds rarest penguin.
Visit MyARKive to see a selection of images and videos in the Endangered Penguins scrapbook.
Further information
To learn more about penguin conservation visit:
- International Penguin Conservation Working Group (IPCWG): www.penguins.cl
- Organisation for the Conservation of Penguins: www.seabirds.org
- Yellow-eyed Penguin Trust: www.yellow-eyedpenguin.org.nz
Tuesday 3rd November 2009
2009 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species - Extinction crisis continues
Monday 19th October 2009
ARKive dives deeper for digital imagery
Monday 5th October 2009
ARKive working with STERNA to create access to European digital collections
Friday 16th September 2009
ARKive's UAE Wildlife Photography Competition - Winner Announced
Friday 4th September 2009
BBC's Last Chance to See
Wednesday 19th August 2009
Giant carnivorous plant discovered in Philippines
Wednesday 1st July 2009
Celebrating Darwin
Friday 26th June 2009
World's smallest cetacean on the brink
Wednesday 17th June 2009
New havens for the Hawaiian monk seal
Monday 8th June 2009
World Oceans Day 2009
Wednesday 3rd June 2009
Research reveals jaguar secrets
Thursday 21st May 2009
Komodo dragon found to be venomous
Friday 15th May 2009
The United States celebrates Endangered Species Day
Thursday 14th May 2009
More birds threatened with extinction than ever before
Friday 8th May 2009
Released pygmy hogs alive and well
Wednesday 29nd April 2009
Shark finning crackdown
Wednesday 22nd April 2009
World celebrates Earth Day 2009
Wednesday 15th April 2009
Intrepid scientists discover new orang-utan population on Borneo
Wednesday 1st April 2009
Rapid response helps the sociable lapwing
Friday 27th March 2009
ARKive works with WWF to promote Earth Hour
Friday 20th March 2009
Deadly fungus strikes mountain chicken
Wednesday 11th March 2009
Explore ARKive's threatened marine species using Google Earth
Monday 23rd February 2009
Good news for Critically Endangered parrot
Monday 2nd February 2009
Find ARKive's threatened marine species using Google Earth
Thursday 29th January 2009
Mysterious penguin decline
Friday 16th January 2009
An important message from the DNA of an extinct marsupial
Wednesday 7th January 2009
Wildscreen chairman receives OBE
Monday 15th December 2008
Albatross under threat from predatory mice
Monday 8th December 2008
Conservationists battle to save the gharial from extinction
Tuesday 18th November 2008
ARKive Photographers Feature at UK’s Largest Natural History Photography Symposium
Monday 6th October 2008
2008 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™
Wednesday 3rd September 2008
International partnership takes Wildscreen's work to the United Arab Emirates
Wednesday 27th August 2008
Newly discovered monkey clings to survival
Wednesday 13th August 2008
A whale of a recovery
Friday 8th August 2008
China under the spotlight
Thursday 31st July 2008
New light shed on the ocean depths
Wednesday 23rd July 2008
Half of Philippine fauna nearly extinct
Wednesday 16th July 2008
One third of reef-building corals face extinction
Thursday 10th July 2008
New Natural Wonders added to the World Heritage List
Thursday 3rd July 2008
Rare white-tailed eagle spotted in Northern Ireland
Monday 23rd June 2008
National Insect Week
Friday 13th June 2008
Fishermen help protect Indian Ocean albatrosses
Tuesday 3rd June 2008
The return of Cambodia's wildlife
Thursday 22nd May 2008
International day for biological diversity
Wednesday 14th May 2008
Koalas at risk from climate change
Thursday 1st May 2008
Time is running out for Asian vultures
Tuesday 22nd April 2008
Migrating birds in decline
Friday 11th April 2008
Wildscreen's Patron Sir David Attenborough launches ARKive layer on Google Earth
Tuesday 25th March 2008
WWF reports that Australian wildlife is under pressure
Wednesday 12th March 2008
Tiger numbers 'halve in 25 years'
Tuesday 26th February 2008
South Africa lifts the ban on culling elephants
Latest news
3rd November 2009: IUCN Red List of Threatened Species - Extinction crisis continuesMore
What's new in ARKive
Under the Sea
ARKive principal sponsor
© Wildscreen 2003-2009. By using this website you agree to the Terms of Use
