On World Penguin Day (25 April), we're talking all things penguin. Did you know that the UK is one of the world’s top penguin nations? In some of the UK Overseas Territories in the Southern Hemisphere there are penguins waddling on the shores, tobogganing on their tummies along the ice and diving down to depths of 300m in the oceans. Keen to learn more? The RSPB’s Dale Richards takes up the story.
From the impressive 1.2m tall Emperor Penguins of the British Antarctic Territory to the smaller, agile Southern Rockhopper Penguins of the Falkland Islands – nine out of 18 penguin species breed in the UK Overseas and British Antarctic Territories.
The cold, marine rich environments surrounding these territories provide plentiful squid, krill, fish and crustaceans for penguins to feed on. The wild landscapes of the territories include rugged rocks, coastlines covered in high tussock grass, remote beaches and ice sheets which provide suitable habitat to raise their young in colonies known as ‘rookeries’, which in some territories can reach up to over one million individuals! Read on to discover more about the UK Overseas Territories and their penguins.
South Georgia & South Sandwich Islands – The ‘City of Penguins!’Not far from Antarctica, the remote, inhospitable, ice-covered islands of South Georgia & South Sandwich Islands in the South Atlantic Ocean are home to millions of penguins!
Known as the ‘City of Penguins’ the islands are home to one of the largest animal gatherings on earth, with over three million breeding pairs of Macaroni, around one million pairs of Chinstrap and hundreds of thousands of pairs of King and Gentoo penguins!
South Georgia & South Sandwich Islands host some of the largest animal gatherings on earth - including millions of Macaroni Penguins. © Alastair Wilson (rspb-images.com).
Some commercial fishing activities in the southern oceans can compete with or deplete food sources for the penguins and in some fishing practices there is a risk of accidental bycatch in nets or traps.
In 2021 the RSPB worked with the British Antarctic Survey, the Government of South Georgia and with other partners to satellite track Gentoo penguin movements which led to the extension of the Marine Protection Zone around South Georgia & South Sandwich Islands.
Tristan da Cunha - Northern Rockhopper PenguinsTristan da Cunha, the world’s most remote inhabited island, situated in the middle of the South Atlantic Ocean is home to around 90% of the global population of Northern Rockhopper Penguins.
Known locally as Pinnamins, with long yellow crest feathers on their heads, these agile penguins can hop from rocks at great height!
Northern Rockhopper Penguin, Tristan da Cunha © Rohan Holt.
In 2020 the Tristan community, with support from the RSPB and our partners (find out more here), designated the waters around their islands as a Marine Protection Zone, safeguarding the foraging grounds for penguins, seabirds, whales, and sharks and marine life.
The Tristan Conservation Department work closely with the RSPB to count, monitor, and study the Northern Rockhopper penguins, including tracking to monitor their foraging behaviour at sea.
Like all penguins, Northern Rockhoppers are vulnerable to climate change - a warming in ocean temperatures could mean a loss of suitable food such as krill, fish and squid.
Dr Antje Steinfurth, RSPB Conservation Scientist has been studying Northern Rockhopper penguins for over a decade, and is working closely with the Tristan Conservation Department to help protect this charismatic yet endangered species.
You can read more about Northern Rockhopper Penguins in this blog or on RZSS’s Project Pinnamin webpage.
Falkland Islands – Gentoo, Magellanic, Southern Rockhopper PenguinsIn the South Atlantic Ocean, at the Southern tip of South America, the Falkland Islands are nesting sites for five of the 18 species of penguin - King, Gentoo, Southern Rockhopper, Magellanic and Macaroni.
The Magellanic Penguin is a summer visitor to the islands, and it’s known locally as the ‘Jackass’ because of its donkey-like call!
The Magellanic Penguin is a summer visitor to the Falkland Islands. © Falklands Conservation.
36% of the world’s population of Southern Rockhopper Penguin (smaller and with a shorter yellow crest than the Northern Rockhopper) and 34% of the world’s population of Gentoo Penguins are found on the Falkland Islands.
Oil pollution by vessel spills is a threat to penguins across worlds the oceans. The oil can damage their feathers making them no longer waterproof and when preening they ingest the oil which is toxic.
The RSPB work with the territory-based organisation - Falklands Conservation who rehabilitate penguins which have been oiled at sea, they also undertake monitoring of key penguin breeding sites and advocate for sustainable management of marine areas.
The RSPB are working with Falklands Conservation on the restoration of peatland by planting tussac grass to aid carbon capture and rebuild an important breeding habitat for penguins.
British Antarctic Territory – Emperor PenguinsThe British Antarctic Territory is a cold, dry, windy, western section of the Antarctic home to five breeding species of penguin - Emperor, Adelie, Chinstrap, Gentoo and Macaroni.
Emperor Penguins breed on sea ice and can withstand temperatures of -50˚C. If temperatures continue to rise as a result of climate change, the sea ice which they rely on as their breeding ground will be lost.
Emperor Penguins can withstand temperatures of -50˚C. Image by WikiImages from Pixabay.
RSPB work in the UK Overseas TerritoriesThe RSPB works with the UK Government, territory governments and territory-based conservation organisations to improve wildlife sites, strengthen environmental policies, and build partner capacity.
Our work on seabirds and penguins across the territories includes monitoring and research, protecting and managing their breeding grounds and feeding sites at sea.
We work with the UK Government Blue Belt Programme who support the territories with marine protection and management. Combined, the marine zones of our UK Overseas Territories span over 1% of the global ocean! These small islands are making a big impact to our global ocean health by helping combat ocean threats such as climate change, illegal fishing and marine pollution. Find out more about the UK Government Blue Belt Programme.
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Find out more about our international work on seabirds and marine conservation:
• A view from the waves – how we’re working with retailers to make seafood safer for seabirds• Marine conservation on a global scale – the International Marine Protected Areas Congress• The mighty Pacific: how the RSPB is working with partners in Japan and Taiwan to reduce albatross deaths in High Seas fisheries• New legal framework and biosecurity measures protect rare, endemic wildlife on Tristan da Cunha• Meet the world’s most remote Marine Protection Zone Officer
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