More random thoughts about bartending
9 years ago
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Calgary Zoo News
A Humboldt penguin dives in his pool at the zoo in Nuremberg, southern Germany. The Calgary zoo is planning a penguin exhibit.
Photograph by: Timm Schamberger, AFP/Getty Images
Construction is already underway on the Antarctic Landing exhibit, which eventually will feature as many as 90 penguins from four species.
"It's been thoroughly planned out and it's well underway," said zoo spokeswoman Laurie Herron.
The exhibit is expected to open in early 2012, she said.
The Calgary Zoo came under fire last week after a report — requested by zoo officials following a series of deaths and animal mishaps — revealed a number of problems at the facility.
Amid other concerns revealed by the review team of accredited zoo experts were issues over the Calgary Zoo's poor collection planning, which showed little focus, critics argued.
Herron said the penguin display has already undergone exhaustive planning for several years, noting the zoo has experts on hand to care for the penguins once they arrive and is planning to bolster its team of knowledgeable marine animal staff in the meantime.
Antarctic Landing is the lone piece of the ambitious Arctic Shores proposal to be constructed in the near future after the rest of the exhibit was scaled back due to soaring construction costs.
The exhibit will feature King, Rockhopper, Gentoo and Humboldt penguins and include a pool with a viewing glass for visitors.
Penguin experts say the birds can do well in zoos, but only if the proper homework is done on their care.
When the penguin exhibit opens next year, it may also mean another part of the zoo will close, according to spokesman Simon Scott.
"When the penguins (exhibit) open(s), when they arrive, we will look to close another part of the zoo, perhaps an aging part of the zoo, which will allow us to focus more moneys and more resource in this area," he said.
In 2008, an entire cow nose ray exhibit was wiped out because of human error. Since then, the zoo has been harshly criticized for not having appropriate expertise to build the pool and to care for the rays.
With files from Richard Cuthbertson
Source
Monday, June 28, 2010
Pepper Celebrates Her First Birthday at the Tennessee Aquarium
Pepper's Birthday Party at the Tennessee Aquarium
6/16/2010 4:43:31 PM
Above: Gentoo penguin “Bug” tends to her two eggs.
Contact: Thom Benson 423-785-3007
Pepper Celebrates Her First Birthday at the Tennessee Aquarium
Busy Year Ahead? Penguin Keepers Watching Several Gentoo Eggs
Busy Year Ahead? Penguin Keepers Watching Several Gentoo Eggs
Right now the feisty little bird seems to be everywhere in the exhibit, a trait that keepers will monitor closely in the coming days. “We have learned from keepers at other zoos and aquariums that the one-year-old penguins can be bullies to younger chicks,” Graves said. “So if we have any gentoo babies this year, we’ll really have to keep an eye on Pepper to make sure she doesn’t cause any trouble.”
There are five gentoo eggs in the exhibit which belong to three different pairs of gentoos. Biscuit and Blue were the first to have eggs this year, and if they are fertile, one or both may hatch near the end of June. Bug and Big T also have two eggs which could hatch around the third week of July. And this week, one egg appeared in Nipper and Flower’s nest. A second egg is expected any day now. “Nipper has always been a real character, but as it turns out, he’s a terrific nest-builder,” said Loribeth Aldrich, Aquarium aviculturist. “His nest is far and away the best one that has been built inside Penguins’ Rock.”
While Paulie and Chaos were the model penguin parents last year, successfully raising Pepper, the egg they had been tending this year failed to hatch. None of the other macaroni eggs laid this year were successful. “We think the nesting season for the macs is probably over,” Graves said. “However, we could still see more activity from the gentoos. And even if we don’t, we could have our hands full if a few of the current eggs hatch.”
To celebrate Pepper’s first birthday, the first 250 Aquarium visitors on Friday will receive a Little Debbie® snack cake. Guests will also have an opportunity to learn more about Pepper and the other penguins with eggs during special keeper shows and the new Backstage Pass behind the scenes tour of Ocean Journey.
Source
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Saturday, June 26, 2010
One Stupid Mistake
National Parks defends penguin fire
Posted
The National Parks and Wildlife Service has defended its hazard reduction burn at a New South Wales far south coast sea bird sanctuary.
The State Opposition's Environment Spokeswoman, Catherine Cusack, says the move to rid Montague Island, near Narooma, of kikuyu grass should have been postponed, until sniffer dogs were available to find isolated penguins.But the Service's southern region manager, Tim Shepherd, says precautions had been taken to find stray birds before the program began.
He says while the loss of the penguins is regretted, the colony is now better able to cope in the future.
"We do a very thorough search through very, very thick, sometime metre-high kikuyu before locating about 70 birds," Mr Shepherd said.
"This year, unfortunately, we missed a few and unfortunately there were 13 animals that perished but at the same time maybe hundreds of birds from the burn program will be saved."
Source
Penguin News from Down Under
Tackling the fox problem for penguins
Monday, 21/06/2010
A biodiversity expert from the University of Bristol in the UK is in Victoria to help protect penguins from foxes.
Stephen Harris is at Gippsland's Phillip Island this week, where he believes the island can become fox free.
He says a combination of baits and shooting has made a significant indent in the fox population.
"They have a reputation for being very clever animals, and it's well earned," he says
"They very soon become wary of baits, they avoid areas where people are spotlighting so they don't get shot. So the survivors that are left are extremely difficult to catch, so it's quite a challenge finding the last of them."
Bushy Beach track closed
Click photo to enlarge
Department of Conservation rangers Helen Jones (left) and Kevin Pearce assess damage to the Bushy Beach track, caused by two weeks of heavy rain. The track is popular with people wanting to view yellow-eyed penguins at Cape Wanbrow. Photo by David Bruce.
Heavy rain over the past two weeks has washed slips on to the Department of Conservation (Doc) track and caused slumping, making it dangerous.
The track has been used by 40,000 visitors since November, and is one of the most popular Doc tracks in North Otago.
It leads to a viewing platform and hide where people can watch the penguins returning to their nests.
A side track leading down to Bushy Beach has also been cut off by a large slip.
Doc rangers Helen Jones and Kevin Pearce yesterday assessed the state of the track after further slips during last weekend's heavy rain.
About three-quarters of the 400m-long track has been damaged.
Mr Pearce said the damage to the track was the worst he had seen in his 20 years with the department in North Otago.
They will now prepare costings and options to get the track reopened, which may not happen until August at the earliest.
One option is clearing the existing track, repairing the fence, shifting portions of the track away from where the cliff face down to Bushy Beach had eroded, and resurfacing it.
The other is building a new track along the top of the cliff face to replace the damaged section.
Mr Pearce said clearing the track would be a big task.
All the material from the slips would have to be carted away.
There was potential for further damage if there was more heavy rain, he said.
Source
Battered penguins flown to dry haven
2010/06/21
2010/06/21
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Earlier this week SANParks reported that 600 chicks, with only a down feather covering and still lacking their waterproof feathers, had died in the icy rain and wind.
The conditions were exacerbated because the Algoa Bay island is very flat and open to the elements, the run-off is poor and the vegetation usually used for shelter is threadbare due to the drought, said spokesman Megan Taplin.
The endangered species traditionally burrowed into layers of guano, but this was stripped and sold as fertiliser by “white gold” traders in an industry which ran from the mid-1800s to the 1980s.
The good news is that the weather has cleared, no more deaths have been discovered on Bird Island, and only 19 dead birds have been found on nearby St Croix Island, Taplin said yesterday.
“Park rangers stationed on Bird Island used all means possible to alleviate the situation in the absence of assistance from land due to rough seas. Rangers provided temporary shelters for penguin chicks using materials on the island, and also drained penguin nests of excess water where possible.”
As the sky started to clear yesterday morning, two injured adult penguins and five abandoned chicks were airlifted from the island by helicopter and taken to Bayworld in Port Elizabeth.
The birds were received by Trudie Malan, of Penguins Eastern Cape, who ensured they were stabilised before setting off with them to the organisation’s rehabilitation centre at Cape St Francis.
Taplin said rangers would be assessing the situation on Bird Island again today when they should be able to reach the island by boat. A decision will then be taken on whether to evacuate more chicks.
Meanwhile, the 3000 penguin breeding pairs on St Croix have been less affected by the weather, with only 19 chick deaths recorded. St Croix’s conical shape ensures quick run-off of rainwater, thus sparing chicks from the worst effects of the weather, Taplin said.
“Although the death of penguin chicks due to extreme weather is a naturally occurring phenomenon, the colonies in Algoa Bay are worrying considering the recent reclassification of the African penguin as an endangered species.”
Addo Elephant National Park’s St Croix Island is home to the largest breeding colony of African penguins in South Africa, while Bird Island harbours about 700 breeding pairs as well as the world’s largest Cape gannet breeding colony.
Leading seabird biologist Dr Norbert Klages, a trustee of the SA Marine Rehabilitation and Education Centre at Cape Recife, said the tragedy could have been avoided.
“If there was even a minimum of population management done by SANParks, this need not have happened. I’m talking artificial burrows, nesting material, any kind of shelter and planning ahead when it is known bad weather is coming.”
SANPark’s successful and internationally acclaimed efforts to save the black and white rhino should be used as a template for “best practice” with the African penguin.
“It’s high time SANParks reconnected with this old approach of doing active work on the endangered wildlife populations in their care and applying the skills they have.”
Samrec would also have taken in hundreds and cared for them.
“I’ve challenged SANParks to do something of this nature for years. It is disgusting. If funding is a problem in terms of intervention here, local folk love their penguins and I’m sure they would be more than willing to help raise funds.”
During the 1990s, Bird Island had a peak active nest count of about 3700 “before the over-fishing and climate change stuff really kicked in. Now there’s only about 800 left.”
Source
Friday, June 25, 2010
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Guardian dogs look after penguins
Middle Island, just off the Warrnambool coast, provides a unique habitat for little penguins. | Photographer: | Laura Poole
These Maremma dogs have an important job protecting local penguin populations. (Laura Poole)
Guardian dogs look after penguins
Tuesday, 22/06/2010
It's just far enough off Victoria’s south west coast line to be called an island.
Middle Island, in the heart of Warrnambool’s tourist precinct, is only about 100 metres from the beach.
At low tide volunteers who monitor penguin numbers can walk out to the island, only wetting their ankles.
But so can foxes. They can even swim out when the tide is high.
The foxes aren't as thoughtful as conservation volunteers.
They prey on little penguins and in 2005 had reduced their population to just four.
Middle Island is surrounded by jagged rocky edges, making it impossible to fence out the foxes.
The Warrnambool Coastcare Landcare Group decided something had to be done.
A group volunteer was working at a local chicken farm while he completed a marine science degree.
He'd watch Maremma guardian dogs protect chickens from fox attack at the free range farm.
He thought if it works for chickens, why not penguins?
Warrnambool Coastcare Landcare Group took a tried and true agricultural method and adapted it to conservation in what's thought to be a world first.
And it's worked.
Penguin numbers at Middle Island have increased from four to 150 in five years.
The dogs spend time on the island marking their scent and protecting the birds from predators.
And it wasn't a one off.
Just down the coast at Portland the Point Danger Committee of Management is using Maremma dogs to protect the local Gannet population.
The Gannets have also experienced a dramatic population recovery.
Warrnambool Coastcare Landcare Group leader Don McTaggart says it's a rewarding project to be involved in.
"It gives you pleasure to see nature bouncing back.
"The community is right behind it."The project is a finalist for a National Landcare Award.
Source
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Update on John Yunker, Author of "The Tourist Trail"
Hey everyone!
I have some very good news to share: John Yunker's novel, "The Tourist Trail" will be out very soon. Be sure to come back here for updates, as I'm sure you penguin lovers must have a copy of it. Also, here are some great links to bookmark:
John's new site devoted to The Tourist Trail: http://www.thetouristtrail.com.
(You can download a few sample chapters (in PDF format) from the home page.)
And the novel is now available on the Kindle here: http://www.amazon.com/
For all of you who have a Kindle (lucky you!) you can download a copy. But if you're like me, and are limited to reading your books the traditional way, we won't have much longer to wait.
Please support this new author; he captures the heart and soul of what it means to live the life of a penguin.
wiinterrr
Thanks everyone...
Monday, June 21, 2010
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Visit from a Penguin
Middletown, NJ - (June 18, 2010) - Dunlop, an African Penguin from Jenkinson's Aquarium in Point Pleasant, NJ, visited the four Kindergarten classes at Middletown Village Elementary School in conjunction with the school's hands-on science program.
Dunlop's handlers taughts students about the major penguin species, including Dunlop's habitat, daily grooming, eating and mating habits, as well as the bird's geography, and conservation efforts to preserve this unique species.
The Middletown Village Parent Faculty Association (PFA), which raises funds throughout the school year, underwrites enrichment programs that reinforce science, history, culture and art taught in the classroom.
Source
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Friday, June 18, 2010
Tennessee Aquarium Penguin News
Pepper's Birthday Party at the Tennessee Aquarium
6/16/2010 4:43:31 PM
Above: Gentoo penguin “Bug” tends to her two eggs.
Pepper Celebrates Her First Birthday at the Tennessee Aquarium
Penguin Keepers Watching Several Gentoo Eggs
Right now the feisty little bird seems to be everywhere in the exhibit, a trait that keepers will monitor closely in the coming days. “We have learned from keepers at other zoos and aquariums that the one-year-old penguins can be bullies to younger chicks,” Graves said. “So if we have any gentoo babies this year, we’ll really have to keep an eye on Pepper to make sure she doesn’t cause any trouble.”
There are five gentoo eggs in the exhibit which belong to three different pairs of gentoos. Biscuit and Blue were the first to have eggs this year, and if they are fertile, one or both may hatch near the end of June. Bug and Big T also have two eggs which could hatch around the third week of July. And this week, one egg appeared in Nipper and Flower’s nest. A second egg is expected any day now. “Nipper has always been a real character, but as it turns out, he’s a terrific nest-builder,” said Loribeth Aldrich, Aquarium aviculturist. “His nest is far and away the best one that has been built inside Penguins’ Rock.”
While Paulie and Chaos were the model penguin parents last year, successfully raising Pepper, the egg they had been tending this year failed to hatch. None of the other macaroni eggs laid this year were successful. “We think the nesting season for the macs is probably over,” Graves said. “However, we could still see more activity from the gentoos. And even if we don’t, we could have our hands full if a few of the current eggs hatch.”
To celebrate Pepper’s first birthday, the first 250 Aquarium visitors on Friday will receive a Little Debbie® snack cake. Guests will also have an opportunity to learn more about Pepper and the other penguins with eggs during special keeper shows and the new Backstage Pass behind the scenes tour of Ocean Journey.
Source
More on SA's Recent Cold Weather Penguin Disaster
Cold snaps SA
Jun 17, 2010 3:35 PM | By Sapa
Ice on Sandton's roads, penguin chicks struggling to cope with cold rain, snow, and frozen football pitches took South Africa by surprise during the first week of the World Cup soccer matches.
Current Font Size:
Hogsback, Eastern Cape
Photograph by: Errol Parrish
Photograph by: Errol Parrish
Alexander Bay in the Northern Cape recorded winds of 46km/h, with warnings of black frost -- melting ice -- on many of the country's roads, making travel perilous.
Guardian.co.uk blogger Sean Ingle wrote on Thursday morning: "Last week the temperatures in South Africa were pushing 25c - today, however, Ghana's training session was delayed for two hours due to frozen pitches at their training base north of Rustenburg."
In Algoa Bay near Port Elizabeth, extreme cold, wind and heavy rain killed 600 African penguin chicks on Bird island.
The Salvation Army, which usually plans for higher demand for help during winter, said it had noticed an increase in the number of people arriving at its soup kitchens.
"I think this is our first real cold snap and we have seen numbers increase in the city [Johannesburg]," said spokesman Garth Niemand.
They had sent thousands of blankets across the country and had noticed that those queuing were mostly the poor, homeless and single mothers trying to get something extra for their children.
Anyone who wants to help can donate blankets, clothing, children's clothing and dry ingredients for soup such as beans, soup mix, soya and oil, at one of their outlets and they will be distributed where needed.
Source
Too cold for penguins
Jun 17, 2010 2:27 PM | By Sapa
Extreme cold, wind and heavy rain has killed 600 African penguin chicks on Bird island, a reserve located in Algoa Bay near Port Elizabeth.
Fifteen African penguins from uShaka Marine World
"Penguin chicks started dying on Tuesday, when extremely cold weather, coupled with strong winds and heavy rainfall hit the Eastern Cape," SANParks regional communications manager Megan Taplin told Sapa.
The number of chicks that had died had risen to 600 by Thursday morning.
Data from a weather station on the island showed temperatures over the past three days ranged between 8.8 and 12 degrees Celsius, with wind speeds gusting up to 95km/h.
"The total rainfall for the three days was 63.2mm, which is an abnormally high amount for this area at this time of year.
"Park rangers stationed on the island used all means possible to alleviate the situation in the absence of assistance from land due to rough seas.
"They provided temporary shelters for penguin chicks using materials on the island, and also drained penguin nests of excess water where possible," she said.
Asked how the penguins had died of cold, when their Antarctic cousins survive long winters and sub-zero conditions, Taplin said African penguins did not shelter their chicks in the same way as those down south.
"Although the penguins do live in burrows, some stand out in the open next to the adults. The chicks are between a few weeks and two months old, and have only a down-feather covering, and when they get wet they die of hypothermia caused by wind chill."
"The recent drought in the Eastern Cape means the island's vegetation, which would usually offer some protection, is now sparser than usual."
When the weather cleared on Thursday morning, rangers had used a helicopter to airlift two injured adult penguins and five abandoned chicks to Port Elizabeth.
"They will be taken to a specialised penguin rehabilitation centre for treatment. Rangers will assess the situation on Bird Island again tomorrow (Friday), when they are able to reach the island by boat.
"A decision will then be taken on whether to evacuate more penguin chicks for rehabilitation."
Taplin said the death of penguin chicks due to extreme weather was a naturally-occurring phenomenon, and one in which SANParks did not usually interfere.
"In this instance, however, the number of chick deaths was higher than usual. The African penguin is classified as an endangered species, so we took action," she said.
There are about 700 African penguin breeding pairs on Bird Island.
Penguin chicks on nearby St Croix Island were minimally affected by the recent weather, with only 19 deaths recorded.
SANParks say the island's conical shape - unlike Bird Island's relatively flat topography - ensured a quick run-off of rainwater, thus sparing the chicks the worst effects of the weather.
Source
Are WE Starving Our Penguins?
HUMAN DEMAND FOR FISH STARVES THE PENGUIN
Penguin numbers in huge decline as food sources disappear.
In contrast to the common image of miles of black and white tuxedoed bodies converging on Antarctic sea ice in the media the world’s penguins are facing an “extinction crisis”.
Eating the penguin to extiction
According to the ICUN Redlist more than 60% of the planet’s 18 species of penguin are threatened by extinction. This percentage increases to over 70% when “near threatened” species are taken into account.
Penguin Expert Dr. David Ainley says that competition with humans in the industrialised world for food is the fundamental cause for plummeting penguin numbers.
“The main threat [to penguins] is depletion of fish by industrial fishing,” Ainley recently explained, “and all penguin species except for the Antarctic ones, whose habitat so far is protected a bit by sea ice, have been seriously affected by this […] Penguins need lots of food, nearby, reliably available. It’s easy for fishing to negatively alter this,”
Contrary to popular opinion only four penguin species is native to Antarctica and its surrounding islands. These are the species that are most isolated from human disturbance and as a result the least threatened. “The Antarctic penguins are still very abundant and an appreciable number of reporters find their way to their areas. So, we get story after story after story about the penguins on the Antarctic Peninsula, to which lots of nature tours go, and little from elsewhere. Most of the other penguin species occur on offshore islands which are often harder to get to for the usual media story,” Ainley explains.
The role played by climate change
Penguins also suffer from the destruction of their breeding areas by humans and climate change however Ainley makes clear that these threats are far less important in isolation that the damage industrialised fishing has wrought on the marine environment.
“That’s the inconvenient truth that even the climate change champions can’t admit.” He says.
However climate change alongside industrialised fishing will result in further pressure on penguin food sources.
“Changed wind patterns, affected upwelling, altered ocean temperature, and eventually greater acidification which will affect process way down in the food webs relative to where penguins occur in them,” Evidence has shown that where there is lower fish availability penguins are in decline, a trend seen across the world.
“[Penguins'] very high energy needs make them very sensitive to food availability and other ecosystem processes that affect food,” Ainley explains. “It ‘costs’ a lot of energy to swim in the ocean, especially the cold ocean where penguins occur. Since they don’t fly, they are very poor at searching for food. Thus, it is very necessary for there to be a lot of food in known locations.” said Ainley.
As the main predatory species in many areas penguins act as good indicator species for the general condition of oceans, especially for the marine food chain. Unfortunately findings aren’t good, many reports showing that industrialised fishing has “simplified” marine food webs negatively impacting on penguins and many other species.
Human lust for oil
One species of penguin is also at threat from the infamously destructive human desire for fossil fuels. Southern African Penguin (Spheniscus demersus) exists in one of the world’s busiest shiping regions. The species has been seriously affected by two oil spills in the last two decades – 1994 and 2000- killing at least 30,000 penguins. The lasted spill in 2000 launched the largest ever bird rescue where tens of thousands of volunteers battled to save oiled birds.
“Add to [the oil spills] the huge alteration of the Benguela Current, owing to fish depletion, and it is little wonder that this species is critically endangered,” says Ainley. He warns that other species of penguins may become threatened by oil spills as well. If drilling ever happens on Falklands Shelf—and this must be the reason that Argentina and UK went to war, i.e. for potential oil—then a number of penguin populations there would be vulnerable,” says Ainley.
There are 5 species of penguin that breed on the Fawklands, a spill here would be devastating for the world’s penguins.
What you can do
Of all the threats facing penguins’ industrialised fishing remains the greatest. Penguin lovers can help protect the birds by “asking for the establishment of marine protected areas, which are the only way to control the fishing industry and prevent the ultimate complete depletion of Earth’s marine resources.” said Ainley.
Consumers are also advised not to purchase Chilean Sea Bass, a species that’s decline is affecting a number of animals, from whales and seals to penguins. The Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch program lists this fish as one which consumers should avoid.
“As the penguins said in Happy Feet, which I thought to be a very good film, much more sophisticated and true than March of the Penguins: ‘STOP EATING OUR FISH!!!’” concluded Ainley.
Source
Father's Day at Potter Park Zoo
A Penguin-Filled Father's Day on Sunday at Potter Park Zoo
By Billie HarrisLansing, MI - Stop by Potter Park Zoo for a fun-filled Father’s Day on Sunday, June 20, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. In honor of the day, all dads residing in Ingham County will receive FREE admission to the Zoo.
The event is an opportunity for fathers and their families to enjoy the zoo and participate in a variety of fun activities, including the chance to win a penguin feeding! Beginning at 2 p.m., the Zoo will host a special Father’s Day themed Keeper Talk highlighting the role of dads in the wild and here at Potter Park Zoo.
Guests can also stop by the Magellanic penguin exhibit to greet the Zoo’s newest fathers. “Male Magellanic penguins are great dads,” said Zoo Director Gerry Brady. “Their fatherhood duties begin early helping to incubate the eggs and after they hatch, the dads help feed the chicks. They are some of the most involved fathers in the animal kingdom.”
Three penguin chicks hatched in early May and became the latest members of the Potter Park Zoo family. The chicks will be off exhibit for the next few weeks while they receive physicals, and until Zoo staff determine that they can safely be by the water in the penguin exhibit.
However, guests will get a chance to briefly view the babies periodically throughout the day as they play in a small enclosure near the meerkat exhibit.
Potter Park Zoo also has the perfect gift for dads with the opportunity to adopt an animal in honor of their special fathers. For more information on the Zoo’s adopt-an-animal program please visit www.potterparkzoo.org or call 517.342.2718.
Potter Park Zoo is located at 1301 S. Pennsylvania Ave. within Potter Park along the Red Cedar River in Lansing, Michigan. The zoo is open daily year-round, summer hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, call (517) 483-4222 or visit www.potterparkzoo.org
To view Potter Park Zoo's web page on Zoo and Aquarium Visitor, go to: http://www.zandavisitor.com/forumtopicdetail-588-Potter_Park_Zoo
Source
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Cold kills over 500 penguins in S.Africa
Cold kills over 500 penguins in S.Africa
"The chicks, aged between a few weeks old and about two months old and covered only with down feathers, succumbed to the cold and wet weather which has hit Bird Island," national parks spokeswoman Megan Taplin told Sapa news agency.
According to the parks agency, the penguin population is already dwindling with only 700 breeding pairs left in the area.
Source
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Monday, June 14, 2010
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Bald penguin gets sunburn wetsuit
Bald penguin gets sunburn wetsuit
Friday, 11 June 2010
Ralph, a 10-year-old Humboldt penguin, has a new wetsuit to protect him from getting sunburnt Ralph, a 10-year-old Humboldt penguin, has a new wetsuit to protect him from getting sunburnt.
A bald penguin has been kitted out in a new "comfier and snazzier" wetsuit to help prevent him from getting sunburnt this summer. Ralph, a 10-year-old Humboldt penguin at Marwell Wildlife in Hampshire, was last year given a wetsuit for the first time to protect his exposed pale pink skin. Penguins moult every year, which usually takes between four to six weeks to complete. But Ralph loses all his feathers in the space of a few days, so new ones do not grow through in time, exposing his skin to the sun. The wetsuit protects Ralph's sensitive skin until his new feathers have grown through, which his keepers think will take about a month.
This year keepers at the zoo near Winchester have redesigned Ralph's outfit with sticky fabric strips to enable them to adjust it to make it more comfortable as the new feathers grow. The made-to-measure suit, which was created from neoprene, a rubber used to make wetsuits for humans, also has the penguin's name emblazoned on it.
Dave White, head keeper for the penguins, said: "The stretchy material lets Ralph move around normally. "The added benefit of the Velcro means that as his new feathers grow through we will be able to adjust its size, so it's always comfy for him. "At the moment he is sitting on two eggs with his partner Coral and she seems happy enough with his new look for this year."
Source
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