Magellanic Penguins like those living at our zoo are threatened by rising sea levels, which can cause coastal erosion and inundate their nesting islands.

Climate change impacts of all kinds including changes in the availability of food sources and an increase in extreme weather events, puts the long-term survival of Magellanic Penguins at risk. As sea levels increase nesting areas can be washed away making it difficult for penguins to find suitable nesting locations.

As ocean temperatures increase and ocean currents change in response, the distribution of fish penguins need to survive changes. As a result, they have to travel farther to find the food they need while their chicks have to wait longer to eat which can impact their survival.

With the changing climate increased rainfall can be fatal to chicks when their down feathers get soaked. On the other hand, hotter days can also impact survival of both chicks and adults.

What can one person do to help Magellanic Penguins?

Penguins International offers the following information on their website on how we can all make a difference in helping penguins.

It’s pretty tricky to know how you can directly help penguins, especially when they live in remote parts of the world. But there are lots of ways you can help to create a healthy environment for them to live in. And you can do this without spending a penny (even saving a bit in some cases!) These include: 

• Ensure any fish you purchase is from sustainable, well managed fisheries 
• Cut back on products packaged in plastic or plastic-based items
• Make sure you are recycling whenever you can and disposing of other waste correctly. 

To help with the climate change crisis, you can: 

• Reduce the meat you eat 
• Buy less, especially if it is unnecessary 
• Using public transport where possible 
• Arguably one of the most important points, use your voice! Support your politicians and community in their battles to strengthen climate change science. 

You can also help in other ways, such as supporting Penguins International directly by:

-Become a sponsor

-Donating to one of the “Help Penguins Now” causes. 

-Create a free “Facebook Birthday Fundraiser”

-Adopt-a-Penguin (a perfect gift for a penguin loving friend or family member!) 

-Donate to the “Penguin Clean Up Fund”

Photos
Feature – Rick LoBello
Top – Don Faulkner, Wikimedia Creative Commons
Bottom – Ronald Woan, Wikimedia Creative Commons