The Extinction of the Emperor Penguin

The Extinction of the Emperor Penguin

Whitney Bonacci

SANCCOB

SANCCOB is an organization that provides all day, every day rescues for endangered penguins and other sea birds on the South African coastline. They rescue sick and injured sea birds and abandoned chicks. They also offer a rehabilitation program and are recognized as the lead sea bird rescue internationally, rescuing up to 2,500 bird annually. They also have ongoing research to build the populations knowledge on sea birds and their behaviours and disease to later impact their long term survival on our world.

Suggestions

My only suggestion would be a little better marketing, after all the number one source of income is donations and funding so a little more couldn't hurt

How the program works

Rehabilitation

after being admitted to one of two rehab centers doctors start by stabilizing and diagnosing the admitted bird. Then after the diagnoses birds start their treatment plans which include specific feeding, swimming, and medications for each bird. Depending on the illness or injury a bird can be in the center for anywhere between 4-16 weeks. During the process birds receive weekly grading on their health, blood, weight, and waterproofing of their feathers. Once released they are chipped with an implanted transponder for monitoring and research purposes. SANCCOB currently has 16 full time employees, 3 of which are qualified veterinarians and at any given time 20 local and international volunteers and interns.

ears

long thin beak

eyes

Leopard seal

aptenodytes

killer whale

emperor penguin

crabeater seal

adelie penguin

fish

squid

krill

Food web

King penguin

Emperor Penguin

Adelie Penguin

Gentoo Penguin

pygoscelis

short neck

short scale like feathers

long body

Chinstrap Penguin

Fairy penguin

strong lungs

(can hold breath for 20 minutes )

spheniscus

black back

Magellanic Penguin

Jackass Penguin

Humboldt Penguin

white belly

paddle like flippers

Galapagos Penguin

Yellow-eyed Penguin

Fiordland Penguin

eudyphytes

short stiff tail

Threats

Snares Penguin

Erect-Crest Penguin

Rockhoper Penguin

Macaroni Penguin

powerful claws

The Emperor penguin

Royal Penguin

webbed feet

short legs

Aptenodytes Forsteri

4 toes

Currently the industrial fishing on krill, one of their main food sources, is slowly causing penguins to go further and further in order to get food. The longer the parents are away from the chick the more likely it is for them to succumb to starving and predation. As of 2012 there were only 238,000 breeding pairs in existence and it is expected to decrease 33% in the next generations. Along with industrial fishing, climate change is also affecting breeding habits within colonies. The ice loss from ice shelves and the decrease in safe areas for colonies to live is decreasing extremely quickly. Another danger is the amount of human interactions, meaning tourists, scientists, and the construction of labs and fisheries.

What we know:

Emperor penguins are the most ice-dependent penguin species in existence, they need it for ice foraging, breeding, and raising their young. They are actually the only penguin to stay in tundra areas for breeding and raising their chicks.

Emperor penguins are also the largest breed of penguin that exists getting up to 4 feet tall and around 80 pounds, almost double the size of the next largest penguin.

They only have one chick a year per breeding pair!

Many colonies travel up to 75 miles to open water for food source and hunting.

Their life span is about 20.4 years

Habitat

The Antartic Coastline

The emperor penguins live mostly on the coats of Antartica, Only one known colony lives wholly of land. In fact this species of penguins are native to Antartica and are rarely know to move. A few colonies move to the top shelf in order for breeding and some colonies will even move 200km from open water temporarily for breeding purposes.

They feed mainly on Antartic fish but krill

and cephalopods can also be a staple in

their diet which is why the industrial

fishing of krill is starting to decrease their

population.