Gentoo penguins (Pygoscelis papua) can be found swimming, breeding, and foraging in the waters off the Antarctic Peninsula, which juts northward toward South America, and around several sub-Antarctic islands. Although their numbers are stable, human activity could have a major impact on their population health.
About 387,000 breeding pairs of gentoo penguins inhabit the Antarctic Peninsula, the Falkland/Malvinas Islands, and South Georgia Island. They can be as tall as 76 centimeters (about 2.5 feet) and weigh 4.5 to 8.5 kilograms (about 10 to 18 pounds). They are recognizable by their red-orange bills and their feet, which range in color from pink to orange to red.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists gentoo penguins as Near Threatened with extinction. Although some colonies appear to be growing, others are declining quickly, and the impact of human activity may be to blame.
Gentoos construct their nests with small pebbles and often will steal them from neighboring nests.
Human interference and habitat degradation are the main threats to the health of gentoo penguin populations. As tourism and other commercial activities—such as oil exploration, fishing, and egg collection—increase near the islands and waters where they live, their breeding and foraging ability is affected.
Protecting gentoo breeding colonies is critical for the birds’ survival. Visitors, whether recreational, scientific, or commercial, increase pollution and marine traffic, which can hurt gentoos’ foraging ability. The Pew Charitable Trusts recommends:
The Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) is an international body of 24 countries and the European Union with the authority to create large-scale, fully protected marine reserves in the waters surrounding Antarctica. Action by CCAMLR is needed to help alleviate threats to these penguins and to protect them for the future.
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