Penguins in Peril

 Its Penguin Awareness Day today and these cuddly, well dressed birds need our help. 10 of the 18 penguin species are threatened with extinction. In the above picture, from left to right we have: The Galapagos Penguin (Endangered); Emperor Penguin (Near Threatened); Northern Rockhopper (Endangered); Yellow-Eyed Penguin (Endangered); King Penguin (Least Concern); and the African Penguin (Endangered). Climate Change is one of the major threats to penguins, rising sea surface temps shrink ice necessary for breeding and limits access to prey for many species. Overfishing of commercial fisheries (penguin prey) and plastic pollution (penguins accidentally eat plastics preventing digestion of foods and leaching many toxins into the body) are also leading threats.

These birds are champion parents (see: March of The Penguins), and expert survivalists—thriving in -60°C weather as well as the warm tropical rainforests of New Zealand and craggy coasts of Africa. Some can dive up to 300 meters, swim at speeds of 36 km/h, and waddle over 95 km to breed. See below for what you can do to help save these wonderful birds:

1. Spread the word!—Public Awareness is the first step for saving any species
2. Limit use of plastics and recycle and properly dispose of what you do use
3. Try to buy seafood that comes from sustainable fisheries @montereybayaquarium created the Seafood Watch app providing science-backed evidence on what to buy
4. Donate or symbolically “adopt” a penguin through organizations like @world_wildlife gifts.worldwildlife.org and @oceana gift.oceana.org

#penguin #wildlifeart #wildlife