Featured Image Credit: Georgia Aquarium
By Emily Persico
After rescuing 23 African penguins weeks ago, the Georgia Aquarium staff has returned to the South African coast and released its patients back into sea. This rescue and release is part of a larger effort among all zoos and aquariums to revive the African penguin population from endangerment.
In the past 30 years, population numbers of these penguins have dropped 30%. The Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) is combatting this decline with a Species Survival Plan for African penguins and other endangered animals. This plan ensures genetic diversity by arranging breeding across zoological institutions.
The Georgia Aquarium is a significant player in this plan. Aside from caring for and breeding African penguins, the Aquarium also has a partnership with the South African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds. Together, these two organizations transported 23 African penguins in cardboard boxes to the beaches near Cape Town last Thursday. The penguins slowly waddled their way out to the ocean before taking a final collective dive into the sea.
These penguins are just a couple dozen of the 900 or so African penguins that require rescuing each year. These 6 pound water birds are tiny and vulnerable. They face threats from natural predators and, more and more commonly, from humans. Oil spills, food shortage from fisheries, and guano (bird dropping) collection for fertilizer are just a few ways that humans impact African penguins.
Luckily, though, organizations like the Georgia Aquarium are having a positive impact on African penguin populations, and you can too. Adopt a penguin or read more from our source.