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Penguin Species: King, Adelie, Little Blue, African And Rockhopper Penguins
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Published: October 26, 2007
In the award-winning film Happy Feet, tap-dancing penguins lead the public to demand a ban on all commercial fishing around the Antarctic continent. Unfortunately, interactions between humans and penguins rarely occur this harmoniously. In fact, human-caused conditions, such as global warming and habitat destruction, are leading to a downfall in many penguin populations.
Because many penguin species exist in warm and cold climates, human impact varies with each breed.
Adelie penguins, named after the wife of the French explorer Jules Dumont d'Urville, rely heavily on the amount of sea ice available. Although they breed on the ice-free region of Antarctica each summer, the majority of their lives are spent on the ice pack foraging for krill, fish and squid. As the smallest of the Antarctic penguins, Adelie penguins have simple tuxedo markings that camouflage them well in the water and make them excellent hunters. When searching for food, these penguins can dive up 170 meters and remain under water for over five minutes. Although recent studies have shown the Adelie populations have remained relatively constant, experts warn the melting of sea ice and commercial fishing will adversely affect these wonderful creatures.
The Rockhopper is another penguin species suffering from overfishing around Antarctica. Only an average of 52 centimeters in height, these penguins have distinct markings that include a gold crown on top of their heads, red eyes and pink legs. Despite their small stature, Rockhoppers can be very aggressive, especially when protecting their young. Their largest colonies reside on the Falkland Islands, where they eat a variety of crustaceans, squid and fish. However, commercial fishing in the area has lead to a serious decline in this penguin community. In fact, according to the International Penguin Conservation Work Group, the number of Rockhopper breeding pairs has decreased from 2,500,000 to only 300,000 from 1984 to 2002. Despite pressure from conservation groups, the Falklands government has yet to enact a law to protect these precious penguins.
Yet another species of penguin suffering from human encroachment are little blue penguins, also known the fairy penguins. As the smallest penguin species, they stand only 25 centimeters tall and have blue-tinged feathers on their backs. Unlike other stereotypical cold-climate penguins, little blue penguins live in Australia and New Zealand. Their diet predominately includes anchovies and squid because they can dive an average of only about 10 to 20 meters deep. Their breeding grounds are located on offshore islands, but they have also been known to congregate along isolated shoreline areas. Due to habitat destruction and land predators, especially domesticated animals, the little blue penguin population is in decline.
African penguins are also very vulnerable. In addition to their tuxedo markings, they also have black faces and a dark arc across their chests. These are the only penguins found on this continent, making these animals truly unique. Standing at about 68 centimeters tall, they hunt anchovies, sardines, mackerel and squid. Many different factors have caused the African penguin population to decrease about 2% every year. Their eggs are very susceptible to predators and they must compete with both humans and animals for food. Oil pollution has also posed a significant threat to African penguins.
The relationship between people and penguins has not been completely negative. The population of King penguins, for example, is recovering despite a history of being exploited for their blubber and feathers. At approximately three feet tall with orange patches on their cheeks, the King penguins can be found on islands scattered throughout the southern Atlantic Ocean and southwestern Pacific Ocean. These penguins are distinct because they hunt in teams and carry their young on top of their feet instead of in nests. Although King penguins are faring better than other species, some fear that climate change will hurt these birds because they have become acclimated to an environment that is always below 10 degrees Celsius.
Each penguin variety has its own needs and is therefore affected differently from human activities. Although Happy Feet oversimplifies the connection between penguins and people, it has played a positive role by increasing public sympathy for the plight of the penguin.
Sources:
'Adelie Penguin'. Organization for the Conservation of Penguins. 2007. 18 Oct. 2007. http://www.penguins.cl/adelie-penguins.htm.
'African Penguin.' Organization for the Conservation of Penguins. 2007. 18 Oct. 2007. http://www.penguins.cl/african-penguins.htm
Carroll, Paul. 'The King Penguin.' The South Atlantic and Subantarctic Islands. 21 May 2006. 18 Oct. 2007. http://www.btinternet.com/~sa_sa/birdlife/king_pen guin.html.
'Eudyptula Minor.' MarineBio.org. 12 Sept. 2007. 18 Oct. 2007. http://marinebio.org/species.asp?id=652
'Rockhopper Penguin.' Organization for the Conservation of Penguins. 2007. 18 Oct. 2007.http://www.penguins.cl/rockhopper-penguins.ht m.
Adelie penguins, named after the wife of the French explorer Jules Dumont d'Urville, rely heavily on the amount of sea ice available. Although they breed on the ice-free region of Antarctica each summer, the majority of their lives are spent on the ice pack foraging for krill, fish and squid. As the smallest of the Antarctic penguins, Adelie penguins have simple tuxedo markings that camouflage them well in the water and make them excellent hunters. When searching for food, these penguins can dive up 170 meters and remain under water for over five minutes. Although recent studies have shown the Adelie populations have remained relatively constant, experts warn the melting of sea ice and commercial fishing will adversely affect these wonderful creatures.
The Rockhopper is another penguin species suffering from overfishing around Antarctica. Only an average of 52 centimeters in height, these penguins have distinct markings that include a gold crown on top of their heads, red eyes and pink legs. Despite their small stature, Rockhoppers can be very aggressive, especially when protecting their young. Their largest colonies reside on the Falkland Islands, where they eat a variety of crustaceans, squid and fish. However, commercial fishing in the area has lead to a serious decline in this penguin community. In fact, according to the International Penguin Conservation Work Group, the number of Rockhopper breeding pairs has decreased from 2,500,000 to only 300,000 from 1984 to 2002. Despite pressure from conservation groups, the Falklands government has yet to enact a law to protect these precious penguins.
Yet another species of penguin suffering from human encroachment are little blue penguins, also known the fairy penguins. As the smallest penguin species, they stand only 25 centimeters tall and have blue-tinged feathers on their backs. Unlike other stereotypical cold-climate penguins, little blue penguins live in Australia and New Zealand. Their diet predominately includes anchovies and squid because they can dive an average of only about 10 to 20 meters deep. Their breeding grounds are located on offshore islands, but they have also been known to congregate along isolated shoreline areas. Due to habitat destruction and land predators, especially domesticated animals, the little blue penguin population is in decline.
African penguins are also very vulnerable. In addition to their tuxedo markings, they also have black faces and a dark arc across their chests. These are the only penguins found on this continent, making these animals truly unique. Standing at about 68 centimeters tall, they hunt anchovies, sardines, mackerel and squid. Many different factors have caused the African penguin population to decrease about 2% every year. Their eggs are very susceptible to predators and they must compete with both humans and animals for food. Oil pollution has also posed a significant threat to African penguins.
The relationship between people and penguins has not been completely negative. The population of King penguins, for example, is recovering despite a history of being exploited for their blubber and feathers. At approximately three feet tall with orange patches on their cheeks, the King penguins can be found on islands scattered throughout the southern Atlantic Ocean and southwestern Pacific Ocean. These penguins are distinct because they hunt in teams and carry their young on top of their feet instead of in nests. Although King penguins are faring better than other species, some fear that climate change will hurt these birds because they have become acclimated to an environment that is always below 10 degrees Celsius.
Each penguin variety has its own needs and is therefore affected differently from human activities. Although Happy Feet oversimplifies the connection between penguins and people, it has played a positive role by increasing public sympathy for the plight of the penguin.
Sources:
'Adelie Penguin'. Organization for the Conservation of Penguins. 2007. 18 Oct. 2007. http://www.penguins.cl/adelie-penguins.htm.
'African Penguin.' Organization for the Conservation of Penguins. 2007. 18 Oct. 2007. http://www.penguins.cl/african-penguins.htm
Carroll, Paul. 'The King Penguin.' The South Atlantic and Subantarctic Islands. 21 May 2006. 18 Oct. 2007. http://www.btinternet.com/~sa_sa/birdlife/king_pen guin.html.
'Eudyptula Minor.' MarineBio.org. 12 Sept. 2007. 18 Oct. 2007. http://marinebio.org/species.asp?id=652
'Rockhopper Penguin.' Organization for the Conservation of Penguins. 2007. 18 Oct. 2007.http://www.penguins.cl/rockhopper-penguins.ht m.
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