Oiled #penguins spotted off New Zealand coast

Thursday 30 Apr, 2015 | By Luke Balvert 

It may not have reached the heights of the Rena, but wildlife experts are expecting to see more oiled penguins as the fall-out from Mobil's oil spill in Tauranga Harbour continues.
Overnight, four oiled penguins were spotted by the Mauao Area Wildlife Trust conducting searches of the Mauao and Leisure Island penguin roosts.


Clean-up efforts following Monday's oil spill.

“Three of them just had a few speckles, so we just left them alone,” says Mauao Area Wildlife Trust director Julia Graham. “The other one was quite bad with oil over its chest, but unfortunately it took off to the ocean so we couldn't get to it.”

The searches come after a corroded Mobil pipeline was blamed for the heavy oil spill that leaked into Tauranga Harbour on Monday. It is still not known how much oil was leaked, with the black mess found as far away as Maungatapu.

Julia says it was decided that the three penguins showing small specks should be left alone, as taking them in for treatment would prove too stressful. “You have to weigh up the amount of stress that you put them through to take them in,” she explains. “If it's just a tiny bit of oil on the surface and not stuck in their feathers, it will hopefully either wash off in the ocean or get preened off.”

If any penguins are deemed to be too heavily coated they will be taken to ARRC Wildlife Trust for an assessment. To be fully cleaned, a penguin must be held for six weeks to regain their waterproof abilities. “We are treating it like the Rena,” adds Julia. “We have a certain degree of oiling where we will bring them in, and if it's a light degree we'll leave them if it won't affect them that much.”

The 20-strong group will continue to conduct evening searches over the next fortnight, as it is likely any oiled penguins will pop up at dusk. And unfortunately, Julia is expecting more penguins to be affected. “They pulled seven tonnes of oil debris out of the harbour yesterday,” she says, “and the penguins love the harbour. So I'm definitely expecting to see more. There is definitely a few penguins getting oiled, but nothing like the Rena where some were 100 per cent covered. At this time of the year it's a bit cold, so even a few specks of oil can affect their waterproofing and make them quite hypothermic and dangerous for them.”

The group also located large clumps of oiled seagrass washing up around the sandy bay area, accompanied by a strong oil smell. This has since been washed away with the tide. Anyone willing to help with searches around Mauao and Moturiki Island are asked to meet at 5.45pm in front of the Mount Maunganui Surf Club. A torch is required.

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Apr 29, 2015

Did you know: The world’s smallest penguin is roughly the same height as three coffee cups.

Time-lapse reveals how penguins use feces to melt the snow

• Video shows snow blanketing the area before the penguins arrive
• The snow quickly melts away as the penguins leave a trail of guano 
• Scientists say darker colour of the faeces is helping to melt the snow 

By Ellie Zolfagharifard For Dailymail.com

Published: 30 April 2015

Antarctic Gentoo penguins appear to have a very unique way of preparing their love nests; by spreading their faeces. Time-lapse footage from a colony on Cuverville Island reveals how the creatures use their feces - called guano - to melt the snow over their breeding grounds.

The video shows snow blanketing the area before the penguins arrive. But this snow quickly melts away as the penguins leave a trail of guano in their wake.

Scroll down for video 

Oxford University researchers, who captured the footage, claim it is possible that the darker colour of the guano is helping to melt the snow by absorbing extra heat from the sun.

This is known as the 'albedo effect' and describes the process in which snow and ice reflect a lot of the sun’s energy back into space, while darker colours tend to absorb heat.

'This is something we're testing at the moment,' says Dr Tom Hart, a penguinologist from the University of Oxford told The Verge. The snow might also be melting because of mechanical erosion — because the penguins are walking around.' 

Time-lapse shows how penguins use POOP to melt snow

Antarctic penguins appear to have a very unique way of preparing their love nests; by spreading their faeces

The footage was collected as part of Penguin Watch, an Oxford University project that has asked the public to help analyse imagery being sent from the Antarctic. 

It is not know whether the penguins are spreading their faeces intentionally, but scientists believe it has given them an evolutionary advantage. 'We hope these new cameras will reveal how often penguins feed their chicks and how long they have to go to sea to feed in different regions,' said lead researcher Dr Hart. 'Until now, this has only been possible by putting GPS on penguins. The hope is that, by developing a non-invasive method, we can track penguins across the whole of the Southern Ocean without researchers needing to disturb them.'

HOW PENGUINS SURVIVE THE WORLD'S COLDEST TEMPERATURES

Ppenguins have a gene called DSG1, which in humans is known to be involved in a dermatological disease characterised by thick skin

They are the epitome of survival against the odds, enduring some of the most hostile weather conditions on the planet on a continent that is almost completely barren.

And last year, scientists gained a valuable insight into how penguins are able to cope with the extreme cold, high winds and months of darkness they experience in Antarctica.

Genetic analysis of the genomes of two species of penguin - emperor penguins, the largest of the family, and their smaller cousins Adélie penguins - has revealed some of their secrets to survival. 

Researchers found that the penguins have a vast number of genes responsible for creating the raw material needed for feathers - proteins known as beta-keratins.

They carry more genes for a particular type of beta keratin than any other bird and it is thought this is what allows them develop their thick plumage of short, stiff feathers that keep them warm.

The densely packed and barbed feathers also trap air to keep them buoyant and remain waterproof while they are swimming, allowing them to reach speeds of up to 22 mph in some species.

The scientists also discovered that penguins have a gene called DSG1, which in humans is known to be involved in a dermatological disease characterised by thick skin on the palms and feet. It believe these genes may help the penguins develop a uniquely thick skin compared to other birds.

A previous study found that the colour of penguin poo, which can be seen with satellite imagery, could allow scientists to differentiate species and track their behaviour.

Peter Fretwell and his team from the British Antarctic Survey managed to identify the breeding sites of all other seabird colonies with 50 or more pairs.

The signatures of their guano help them to map where each colony lived as well as their movements over time.

The thickness of their guano also provided a clue to the numbers of penguins in each colony of bird – a number which had been previously difficult to obtain. 

Incredible time-lapse footage from a colony on Cuverville Island reveals how the creatures use their feces - called guano - to melt the snow in their breeding grounds

'We hope these new cameras will reveal how often penguins feed their chicks and how long they have to go to sea to feed in different regions,' said lead researcher Dr Hart

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#Penguins of the Day

 

Snares Crested penguins by Jim Tchobanoff

#Penguin of the Day

 

Chinstrap Penguin by Sandro Menzel

Leaked oil in Tauranga Harbour came from Mobil pipeline-Penguins at risk

PHILLIPA YALDEN AND NANCY EL-GAMEL

April 28 2015

Tracy Hardy/Sunlive.co.nz

 

Oil has washed up along the shores of Tauranga harbour after a spill during bunkering at the Port.

Heavy fuel oil spilled from a ship bunkering at the Port of Tauranga has washed up along the shores of the city's inner waterways - leaving a "boiling black mess."

At least three birds were found oiled and taken to a Tauranga wildlife sanctuary following the spill at the port on Monday. Mobil has confirmed the leak that led to oil being spilled into Tauranga Habour came from one of its pipelines during a ship's refuelling at the Mount Maunganui wharf.

Sucker truck at work at Tauranga Bridge Marina

Bay of Plenty Regional Counc

The petroleum giant has also said it will pay for any direct costs incurred in the spill and response effort in the harbour. "We apologise for the incident and any concern or inconvenience it has caused for the community," said Mobil NZ lead country manager Andrew McNaught. "We would like to assure them we are working as quickly as possible to safely manage the situation, to clean up the leaked fuel oil and minimise the impact on the environment."

Tracy Hardy/Sunlive.co.nz Oil spill at Tauranga estuary.

"Mobil appreciates the efforts of the Bay of Plenty Regional Council in responding promptly and effectively to the incident. We will reimburse the council for any direct costs incurred in the spill response and clean-up." McNaught said in a statement that Mobil had been made aware a number of boats had also been affected by oil and the company had set up a process to consider claims for direct damage resulting from leaked oil. "Mobil is liaising with the local marina operator about boat cleaning procedures. We recommend the clean up is handled by an expert."

The company's public affairs manager for NZ and Australia, Samantha Potts, said the leak had occurred in one of its pipelines that runs through to the refuelling berth, but was not a main fuel line. She could not confirm how long oil had been leaking. "We don't know how long the leak went for – the pipe is over the water and as soon as they noticed it, action was taken."

She said workers immediately stopped the bunkering process and began oil spill response procedures. "We don't have an estimate on the size of the leak at the moment, it is hard to determine from the sheen on the water, it was choppy conditions, it is even harder now it has washed ashore. "The good news is there is no longer any oil in the harbour, there is some unfortunately on the beaches."

An oil line on the berthed ship Olomana had leaked during the bunkering process (the transfer of fuel from a tank to a ship), sending oil onto nearby berths and into the harbour, SunLive.co.nz reported.
A slick was spotted by Tauranga Bridge Marina staff on Monday, who contacted Bay of Plenty Regional Council's pollution team and the Port of Tauranga.

Once the spill was spotted, bunkering was stopped, absorbent booms were deployed and responders had attempted to get under the wharf to fix the leak, Bay of Plenty Regional Council onscene commander Adrian Heays said. Chrissy Jefferson, from Oropi Native Bird Care Trust, said one shag had been brought to the centre "drenched in oil" and two other birds had reportedly been found oiled.

Monday's rough weather meant birds were sheltering and therefore less affected, according to the Bay Of Plenty Regional Council. The shag found at Maungatapu had been wiped clean and was now feeding on fish, but it would be another few weeks before it could be waterproofed and released. "He is doing well, he has been fed via a tube and is eating, once he got over the initial shock. He looked like someone had dunked him in a pot of oil."

Wiping the bird clean had stopped it from ingesting any oil during preening, said Jefferson. Since hearing of the spill, Jefferson had readied volunteers and prepared rubber sheeting to stop oil spreading through the sanctuary. "We have to find somewhere to put the contaminated water for disposal.

She said two more birds, understood to be shags, were being brought to the Oropi centre on Tuesday for washing and care. "Any incidents like this can be avoided, it causes a lot of work and distress, it is their home that has been invaded by this black, sticky mess."

Julia Graham, of Mauao Wildlife Trust, said penguin monitoring teams had been assembled and would be checking for any oiled penguins on Tuesday night. "We are hoping we don't find anything but we wouldn't be surprised if we do."

Graham said penguins typically come into the harbour so there was a possibility of penguins being found with spots of oil. "If they are in urgent need of veterinary care most will be taken to the Wildlife Centre in Oropi, where they will be cleaned and waterproofed."

About 30 to 40 people would be split into teams and out checking penguin habitats around Mauao, Rabbit Island a Moturiki Island. Oil has been spotted on Maungatapu, covering about 300 metres of the beach, about 1metre wide north-east of Turret Rd. "We have reports of soiled boats in the marina, and one oiled shag has been reported, which is being cared for by DOC. A land team is assessing wildlife in the area," Heays said.

Most of the blackened oil has been trapped in seagrass, which will be removed as soon as possible, said council. The affected beach was difficult to access by vehicle and the oil pollution team would be using its oil spill trailers to clean up the oil. Heays said the amount of oil spilled is still unknown, but all shorelines were being checked by boats and helicopter, including Pilot Bay and Matakana Island. Spots of oil have been seen up and down the harbour and along the shoreline.

A helicopter survey Tuesday morning has shown no more oil in the water. "It is important that people don't try to clean up the oil themselves. This is heavy fuel oil, and is persistent in the environment. We will be cleaning up any oiled areas using the proper equipment, so please do not attempt to do this yourselves or touch the oil. "Today we are gathering as much information as possible on where the oil has gone and ensuring we can clean up as much as possible. There are booms under the wharf to contain what is there," he said.

SunLive reported the leak was believed to have come from a break in the fuel line under the Mount Maunganui wharf and thought to have been pouring into the harbour for an hour on Monday morning. The 5000-tonne Olomana left the Port of Tauranga at 8am Tuesday bound for Tonga.
Residents around Maungatapu and Turret Rd areas reported smelling oil from their homes on

Monday and on Tuesday could see thick, black patches of heavy fuel oil mangled along the shore.
Maungatapu resident Dennis Duncan had gone to check the security of his jetty at the end of Moiri Pl when he spotted the oil on Monday lunchtime, reported SunLive. "It was raining pretty hard and the wind was coming in so I went down to make sure the jetty wasn't getting moved around. "When I got near to it I could smell oil, and when I got closer you could see it on the water. It was washing over the jetty. I rang the council straight away and they said they'd already had a call about it. I asked what they were doing about it but the woman on the phone said 'I only take the calls.' "She said it came from a spill in the harbour and looking at it this morning, you can see it all up in the grass and places like that. I'm concerned because the grandkids play in the water when the weather is good and it's usually pretty clean."

Duncan said council had an oil spill responder working in the area early Tuesday, but there had been no direct contact from council. "It's really thick oil and it's disgusting. We're a long way from the port, but you can see it trapped all around here. We should have had a call from the council to let us know what is happening but we haven't heard anything."

Another resident, Martin Neil, discovered the spill when his dog came bounding into the home with oil on him. "I checked the cars to see if they were leaking then came out the front to see a boiling black mess. This was about 5pm yesterday. They (council) said they were going to get a bobcat or a digger to pick it all up, but they're a bit late."

Rain and high winds had hampered oil retrieval work on Monday, said Heays, with booms proving ineffective in the heavy seas.  The spill occurred on an incoming tide and four oil steams had been spotted heading towards Matapihi rail bridge. Conditions had been bad and cleaning up the spill was proving difficult, he said.

Staff had worked with the most effective booms and Maritime New Zealand had been informed, Heays said. He knew people would want to help with the cleanup, but it was important that this was done by experts, he said. Maritime New Zealand has since sent an observer.

The Bay of Plenty Regional Council said in a release that teams of trained responders and two boats were deployed on Tuesday to the main oiled sites. Part of the clean-up focused on recovering oil from around the marina, using a sucker truck. The waste was being stored in sealed skips before being assessed at Te Maunga and disposed of at the specialist Hampton Downs facility in the Waikato.

If you spot oil on the beach please contact the Regional Council's Pollution Hotline number 0800 884 883, or email info@boprc.govt.nz to report small oil spots or oiled vessels.

Any oiled wildlife should be reported to Department of Conservation's number 0800 362 468.

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#Penguins of the Day

 

Sea Gazer by Thom Gibbs

 

Thank you by Donna Hampshire

Chester Zoo welcomes its first Humboldt penguin chicks of 2015.

• 27 April 2015
• By Laura Swire

Baby chick Panay named after an exotic island in the Philippines was the first to hatch and weighed just 68g.

Each year zookeepers use a theme for newly-born chicks which have previously included British Olympic athletes, England football players and chocolate bars.

The chicks have been named after the South East Asian development that visitors will enjoy later in the summer when the zoo unveils its new £40m Islands project.

Team manager Andy Woolham explains: "Naming the penguin is a bit of fun for the team. It allows us to track he age of the birds easily because doing it by their spot pattern can be challenging. "This year we decided to celebrate the up-coming opening of our new Islands development and named the chicks in the order that visitors will see each island on their expedition. "Although the penguins aren't moving to Islands, given that it's such a momentous moment in the zoo's history, we thought our new fluffy friends could help us mark the occasion. We named the first chick Panay who was quickly followed by Papua, Bali, Sumatra, Sulawesi, Sumba, Java, Tuma but we're still eagerly waiting for a few more eggs to hatch"

Penguin keeper Sally Baross said: "The team closely monitor the chicks, weighing them daily and giving extra fish to the parents so that they can feed their hungry new arrivals. “All of the chicks are doing really well and have grown incredibly quickly. The first chick, Panay, was only 68g on hatching but has soon shot up to 450g so we’re really pleased.”

Each pair of the South American species which come from the coastal areas of Peru and Chile lays two eggs and incubates them for 40 days up until hatching. Both parents are then involved in rearing the young until they are fully fledged before making their tentative first splash in the main pool with the rest of the colony.

Of the world's 17 penguin species, Humboldt penguins are among the most at risk being classed as 'vulnerable' to extinction by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Chester Zoo funds conservation initiatives in the penguins' homeland where they are threatened by over fishing, climate change and rising acidity levels in the ocean.

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First egg of the season at TN Aquarium's Penguins' Rock

Penguin chicks learn how to swim (video)

By Staff Global News

April 25, 2015

 

You may think that penguins take to water just like fish but learning how to get their happy feet wet is something that doesn’t come naturally.

At the Maryland Zoo, the penguin keepers Maria and Crystal helped African Penguin chicks Volta and Hopper get used to the water by easing them into a bath. When it comes time for a proper swim, the babies don’t take to water like ducks – in fact they don’t seem to like it at all. Fortunately the zoo keepers are there to dry them off and feed them a fishy snack. Hopefully, the penguins will catch on to the art of swimming soon.

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#Penguin of the Day

 

White-flippered blue penguin (Eudyptula minor albosignata) by Graham Ekins

#Penguins of the Day

A Gentoo penguin feeds its baby at Station Bernardo O'Higgins in Antarctica.
Associated Press

Penguins walk on the shore of Bahia Almirantazgo in Antarctica. Antarctica "is big and it's changing and it affects the rest of the planet and we can't afford to ignore what's going on down there," said David Vaughan, science director of the British Antarctic Survey.
Associated Press

 Penguin footprints cover the beach in Punta Hanna on Livingston Island, part of the South Shetland Islands archipelago in Antarctica.
Associated Press

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This Week's Pencognito!

Please be sure to visit Jen and all the Pengies by clicking this link!

Which one is the "Penguin of the Day?" #WorldPenguinDay

ALL OF THEM, OF COURSE!!!!! 

penguins of the world by kiriOkami

Snares Penguin - Eudyptes robustus (video) #WorldPenguinDay

White-Flippered Little (Blue) Penguin - Eudyptula minor albosignata (video) #WorldPenguinDay

Yellow-Eyed Penguin - Megadyptes antipodes (video) #WorldPenguinDay

Emperor Penguin - Aptenodytes forsteri (video) #WorldPenguinDay

'Citizen scientists' help reveal secret lives of #penguins

By Selina Ross

04.25.2015

The popularity of penguins is helping scientists shed light on the Antarctic species' secret lives.

Oxford University has released some of the early findings of its Penguin Watch program to coincide with World Penguin Day on April 25.

The scientists are working with the Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) on the program, which was launched in September last year. AAD ecologist Dr Colin Southwell said they use time lapse cameras to observe penguins on the icy continent. "The thing about cameras is we can get hundreds of thousands of images, but it takes a long time to process them," he said. That is where "citizen scientists" come in.

Everyone knows about penguins, everyone seems to love penguins, so they capture people's attention. Dr Colin Southwell Marine ecologist

Online volunteers count penguin adults, chicks and eggs in photographs taken by the automated cameras monitoring gentoo, chinstrap, king, emperor and adélie colonies. So far more than 1.5 million volunteers have clicked on 175,000 images of penguins.

Lead researcher Dr Tom Hart from Oxford University said scientists hope the cameras will reveal how often penguins feed their chicks and how long they have to go to sea to feed in different regions. "Until now, this has only been possible by putting GPS on penguins," he said. "The hope is that, by developing a non-invasive method, we can track penguins across the whole of the Southern Ocean without researchers needing to disturb them."

Dr Southwell said cameras operate throughout winter on the Antarctic Peninsula.

Photo: Scientists hope the cameras will reveal, among other things, how often penguins feed their chicks. (Supplied: penguinwatch.org) 

 

"What they've found in the Peninsula is that the penguins are coming back to their breeding sites in the dead of winter and these are penguins that normally are thought to leave their breeding sites and go forage at sea for the entire time of the winter. We don't know why they're coming back but it's the first time it's been observed."

The cameras will take photos every minute during the breeding season. Dr Southwell said it would allow scientists to monitor its success and how the season varies in different areas. "In East Antarctica, for instance, we've found that in some regions the breeding success is incredibly variable from one year to the other, sometimes they'll churn out lots of chicks, other times there'll be almost complete failure. "Whereas in other regions the breeding success is high all the time, so it's telling us something about what drives those populations and what could impact on them and how it could vary from place to place and time to time."



Studying penguins is also helping scientists gain better understanding of fisheries management. "Penguins and other seabirds breed on land so they're accessible, but they forage in the ocean and are then subject to impacts from anything that's affecting their food supply," Dr Southwell said. "So one thing is that they're easy to study, another thing is that they're an iconic species. "Everyone knows about penguins, everyone seems to love penguins, so they capture people's attention and so if we're trying focus people's attention on important issues like fisheries management they're a good species from that point of view."

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11 #penguins that prove every day should be #WorldPenguinDay

Charlotte Gunnell for Metro.co.uk 

Saturday 25 Apr 2015

(Picture: Christopher Michel/ flickr)

Today is World Penguin Day, which aims to raise awareness for the importance of conserving penguins’ natural habitats.

The day coincides with the Adelié penguins’ return to Antarctica after months spent at sea – the area is home to 10,000 species, including Adelié and emperor penguins, but is under threat from human interference.

Sign the petition to protect the penguins habitat by helping establish two sanctuaries in the sea around Antarctica at the Greenpeace website.
But you don’t need us to convince you how important that is…

1. This little guy, who is just having the BEST day.

2. These tiny little balls of fluffy cuteness.

(Picture: Wolfgang Kaehler/LightRocket via Getty Images)

3. This guy, who just wants a cuddle.

(Picture: VANDERLEI ALMEIDA/AFP/Getty Images)

4. This total dude.

(Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

5. These guys, who are pretending not to look.

(Picture: David Cook Wildlife Photography)

6. These Rockhopper penguins, who know where the party’s at.

7. This hangry little Gentoo penguin.

(Picture: Exodus/REX Shutterstock)

8. This dude, who immediately regretted his decision.

9. These King penguins, who totally didn’t see the camera.

(Picture: Exodus/REX Shutterstock)

10. These two, who are just too snazzy for words.

(Picture: Exodus/REX Shutterstock)

11. And, last but definitely not least, how could we forget this guy with a rock problem.




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#WorldPenguinDay celebrations around the world

Calgary Zoo gets in on penguin celebrations

by Cindy White

Posted Apr 25, 2015

Penguins at The Calgary Zoo will be getting some special treats on world penguin day.

Trish Exton-Parder says there will be “A little extra enrichment for our penguins.”

“They’ll come up with some really neat ways to do some interesting types of food. Maybe have some other types of enclosure furniture within the penguin area. Provide them with a few things that are new and different. Some little gifts for the day,” she said.

Around the world, various events are underway, including the Citizen Science Project Penguin Watch, which will release half a million new images of penguins and reveal secrets from a year of spying on the flightless birds.

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New England Aquarium Celebrates ‘World Penguin Day’ 

 

April 25, 2015

A 3.5-week-old little blue penguin chick. (Image Credit: New England Aquarium)

BOSTON (CBS) – New England Aquarium is among the facilities around the globe celebrating World Penguin Day.
In honor of World Penguin Day, which is Saturday, New England Aquarium posted a picture of a young “little blue penguin” chick that hatched on March 30.
The chick, which is not yet named, hatched at a slightly below normal size. But since then the penguin has grown significantly.
Little blue penguins are found in Australia and New Zealand, according to the New England Aquarium, and are the smallest penguins in the world.
The aquarium’s new addition will remain in the care of its parents and biologists for several more months before being added to the colony inside the facility that is made up of nearly 90 penguins.

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It's a special day for Penguins at Torquay's Living Coasts today

By GinnyWare  |  Posted: April 25, 2015

 

• Living Coasts penguins enjoy a tasty snack from a keeper
• Living Coasts penguins are looking forward to their special day

Torquay's penguins are getting ready to celebrate their special day today. Saturday April 25 is World Penguin Day and Living Coasts is laying on extra penguin-themed activities for visitors.

Attraction spokesman Phil Knowling said: "At Living Coasts every day is penguin day – our penguins feed on the best sprats and herring, have their own private beaches and natural sea-water swimming pools complete with wave machines."

To mark World Penguin Day, Living Coasts is offering a penguin feeding experience along with penguin masks and quizes from 11am to 3pm.

 

Phil added: "Penguins need a day of global recognition - they face many serious conservation issues.
"The date of World Penguin Day is linked to penguin migration in the Antarctic and the start of winter in the southern hemisphere. That's why we are linking World Penguin Day to the Pole to Pole climate change campaign."

Living Coasts is joining zoos and aquariums around Europe to raise awareness and stimulate action on climate change as part of the Pole to Pole campaign. The Torquay attraction has a display and pledge wall in the children's area and the campaign is featured in on-site presenter talks.

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Feathered friends get fishy treat for World Penguin Day

Humboldt Penguins

Saturday 25 April 2015

by Catherine Bolado, Senior Reporter

WEYMOUTH’S penguins will be in for some egg-shaped surprises as a treat for World Penguin Day.
The playful birds at Weymouth Sea Life Park will be given some frozen eggs with sprats inside today to give them a fun, fish treat. The Animal care Team said the eggs will provide the penguins with some great enrichment as they will have to work to get the tasty treat out.

A spokesman for the park said: “The colony of 11 Humboldt Penguins at Weymouth Sea Life Park are part of a Sea Life-Wide breeding programme in which 12 have been successfully bred at the attraction since they resided at the Park in 2002. The captive breeding program aims to help sustain numbers in captivity due to their drastic decline in the wild and many penguins bred at the Park have been given to other Sea Life sites to increase the gene pool. “Humboldt Penguins are classed as vulnerable on The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. With only about 12,000 Humboldt Penguins left in the wild, it’s hoped that the breeding colony at the Park will continue to be as successful as it currently is.”

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