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More than 60,000 African penguins have died of starvation on the coasts of South Africa. According to a new study, the severe shortage and overfishing of their main source of food, sardine fish, is responsible for this. These deaths mainly occurred during the process of feather change (molting). This species has been declared critically endangered in 2024.
A heartbreaking tragedy has unfolded off the coast of South Africa. Here about 60,000 African penguins have died of hunger. This horrifying revelation has been made in a new scientific study. The main reason for the death has been said to be shortage of sardine fishes. Sardine fish is the main food of these penguins. The situation is worst in the two major breeding colonies of Dasen and Robben Island. Here, 95% of the penguins have died out between 2004 and 2012. Scientists believe this to be the result of climate crisis and indiscriminate fishing. Human greed has snatched away the morsel from the mouths of these voiceless people. This report has been published in ‘Ostrich: Journal of African Ornithology’.
How did such large numbers of penguins die?
- The study has thrown light on the manner of death of the penguins. African penguins shed their old feathers every year. In their place new feathers grow which protect them from cold and water. This process is called moulting. It lasts for about 21 days. The biggest problem is that during this time the penguins stay on the ground only. They cannot go to the sea for hunting. To stay alive, they have to increase body fat by eating a lot before this process.
- Dr. Richard Shirley of the University of Exeter said that if they do not get food before molting, they become weak. He does not have enough energy left for 21 days of fasting. They either die of hunger before or immediately after molting. Scientists did not find any bodies on the ground. They believe that the weak penguins went into the sea in search of prey and drowned there.
- According to the study, there has been a huge decline in the number of sardine fish (Sardinops sagax) off the coast of western South Africa. Since 2004, the biomass of sardines has fallen by 25% from its peak level. Changes in water temperature and salinity have affected the reproduction of fish.
- The remaining gap was filled by commercial fishing. Fishing continued on a large scale in this area. The penguins did not get food and kept dying of hunger. This is a horrific example of environmental imbalance.
Only 10 thousand pairs of African penguins left
The situation is so bad that African penguins were declared ‘Critically Endangered’ in 2024. Now only 10,000 breeding pairs are left in the world. The population of this species has declined by about 80% in the last 30 years. Lorien Picgru of Nelson Mandela University has called this very worrying. He said that this is the result of mismanagement of small fishes. The situation is worsening with time instead of improving. This is a threat not only to the penguins but to all the creatures that depend on these fish.
Now some tough decisions are being taken to save penguins from extinction. Commercial ‘purse-seine fishing’ has been banned around South Africa’s six largest penguin colonies. In this, a group of fish is surrounded with a big net. Apart from this, conservationists are making artificial nests so that the chicks can be saved. Sick and weak penguins are being rescued and fed by hand. Dr. Ajavianevi Makhado hopes that the ban on fishing will allow the penguins to find prey. This will help in important parts of their life cycle. But the big question is whether we will be able to compensate for this loss.
