Penguin deaths linked to weather

04/05/2011

 

Blue penguins which washed up on East Coast beaches last month died of starvation and exposure, linked to the La Nina pattern, the Department of Conservation (DOC) says.
Massey University tested 18 little blue penguins from two different sites, DOC spokesman Jamie Quirk said.
The necropsy results concluded the deaths were consistent with a prolonged period of starvation and exposure. Of the penguins tested, 12 died of starvation/emancipation, five died of starvation/emancipation/exposure and one died from exposure/hypothermia and an infection.
No food was found in the stomachs of any of the 18 penguins.
There had been claims from some people along the East Coast that Brazilian oil company Petrobras' surveying and testing might have been the reason for the deaths. The Maori Party approached the Government for an investigation into the alleged claims.
"The penguin deaths are linked to the La Nina weather patterns which have reduced the amount of baitfish available," Mr Quirk said.
The health of penguins was measured as a body score with a maximum of nine.
The body score for 12 of the penguins was two and the remaining six scored three.

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