South Africa: Mass Sardine Die-Off - New Threat to African Penguins?
[GroundUp] Researchers say it's too early to draw firm conclusions
Researchers caution against drawing definitive conclusions about the possible link between a mass sardine die-off along South Africa's Cape coastline and the declining African Penguin population. Some penguin breeding colonies have shown signs of weight loss coinciding with the sardine die-offs, but recovery has also been observed.
The sardine loss may be partly due to a newly confirmed viral infection in South African sardines, the first such case in the region. This viral pathogen, similar to one previously linked to mass penguin mortalities in Australia in the 1990s, is being closely monitored. The African Penguin is critically endangered, with an estimated 19,800 mature individuals and 8,750 to 9,900 breeding pairs.
Weight monitoring at penguin breeding colonies is a critical indicator of their health. Preliminary data from three out of seven colonies show declines that have since partially recovered. However, experts caution that these preliminary findings should not be over-interpreted due to multiple potential factors affecting penguin weight.
The sardine die-off, first reported on August 1st, has prompted the South African Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) to investigate possible environmental stressors, including harmful algae and unusual oceanographic conditions, that may have exacerbated the situation.
Written by urgent.news from AllAfrica's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
