Penguins

New Zealand: Hundreds Of Little Penguins Die And Other Seabirds Wash Up Dead On Beaches

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Little penguins are dying in their hundreds, leading conservationists to fear they are starving as a result of the La Nina weather system.

Other seabirds are washing up dead on beaches, raising concerns that species could become extinct if climate change causes extreme weather events to become more frequent.

At Wellington Zoo, two starving little blue penguin chicks have been brought in this week. One died on Wednesday and the other, found at Lyall Bay, was hanging on to life yesterday.

The zoo’s veterinary science manager, Lisa Argilla, said petrels were also starving around Wellington’s south coast, and five shags had been brought in this month. “They’re unable to find enough food. We’ve had a lot of starvations and a lot of mortalities.”

At Banks Peninsula, hundreds of little white-flippered penguin chicks have died of starvation, according to Shireen Helps, who has been caring for the colony on her property for about 25 years.

Read moreNew Zealand: Hundreds Of Little Penguins Die And Other Seabirds Wash Up Dead On Beaches

Radio Tags Created to Help Penguins Are Killing Them

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Here is why microchip transponders under the skin are also a really bad idea:

– CASPIAN RELEASES MICROCHIP CANCER REPORT:

A new paper titled “Microchip-Induced Tumors in Laboratory Rodents and Dogs: A Review of the Literature 1990–2006” has been released…

Radio tags designed to monitor endangered penguins could be killing them, say scientists.


It is feared that flipper bands, used to identify the birds, cause physical damage and drag under the water Photo: NORTH NEWS

A 10-year study found that King penguins with the metal rings had 39 per cent fewer chicks and 16 per cent lower survival rates than those fitted with transponders under the skin.

It is feared that flipper bands, used to identify the birds, cause physical damage and drag under the water.

Read moreRadio Tags Created to Help Penguins Are Killing Them