Happy Feet star takes a tumble

23-12-2006

The most important population of Rockhopper Penguin Eudyptes chrysocome has declined by almost a third since the beginning of the millennium, according to the latest survey figures from Falklands Conservation (BirdLife Partner designate in the Falkland Islands/Malvinas).

Lovelace -one of the stars of this year's Christmas blockbuster, Happy Feet- is a Rockhopper Penguin.

Listed as Vulnerable by BirdLife and the IUCN, the rockhopper is one of ten species of penguin facing the threat of global extinction.

The 2005/06 survey reveals that numbers have fallen from 298,496 pairs in 2000 to 210,418 pairs now - a decline of almost 30 per cent in five years. The birds have been declining since at least the early 1930s, when the population probably numbered around one-and-a-half million pairs.

RSPB biologist Dr Geoff Hilton said the sudden plunge in numbers suggests a massive shift in the ecology of the Southern Ocean, possibly linked to climate change. “It is really alarming that these huge declines - involving the disappearance of literally millions of birds - are happening on islands all round the Southern Ocean, and yet we don't really know what is going wrong.”

"This is gravely worrying for the future of this little bird, which has its most important world population in the Falkland Islands.” —Nic Huin, Falklands Conservation

In 2002/2003 the waters around the Falkland Islands were affected by a harmful algal bloom which poisoned many penguins. Surveys have shown that some species, like the Gentoo Penguin Pygoscelis papua, have been able to recover from the worst effects of this event.

Nic Huin of Falklands Conservation said: “Although the factors driving the long-term decline of Rockhopper Penguins are a little elusive, these survey results show that this species seems unable to bounce back in good years from the population crashes that happen in bad years. This is gravely worrying for the future of this little bird, which has its most important world population in the Falkland Islands.”

To support conservation work with penguins in the South Atlantic, Falklands Conservation offer an Adopt a Penguin scheme at www.lastminute.com under 'Unusual Gifts'.