My first penguin sightings occurred in the Beagle Channel at the tip of South America. I went by boat to a large rookery that was home to hundreds of Magellanic penguins as well as a smaller number of gentoo penguins. The latter penguin is easily recognized by its orange-red bill and matching orange-red webbed feet. The next species seen, though at a distance, was the chinstrap penguin.
Point Wild on Elephant Island is the location where the Shackleton expedition awaited rescue in 1916. The penguins at Point Wild climb significant heights on the rocky peninsula in an effort to find a suitable nesting place away from the sea and predators such as the leopard seal.
The final and most exciting experience with penguins was on the Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic. After a three-hour Jeep journey from Port Stanley to Volunteer Point, I was allowed to visit a relatively small (around 2,000 birds) colony of King penguins, the second largest species of these flightless birds. King penguins can reach one meter in height. Males and females of all penguin species have a similar appearance with the female being slightly smaller. The king penguin couple shares the responsibility of taking care of young ones with one foraging for food (krill, small fish, and squid) while the other takes care of the chick and/or youngster. King penguins are known to dive to depths of 100-300 metres to feed. They are currently a fully-protected species.
… commercial krill fishing is now the main threat to penguins because krill is by far the major source of food for penguins.
During the 19th century, early Antarctic explorers and whalers who came later in the century burned penguins of all species as fuel because of the penguins' abundant blubber content. As cruel as that may appear nowadays, it should be noted that there are no trees on Antarctica to provide an alternate source of fuel. In addition to leopard seals, the other major predator of penguins is the southern giant petrel which will feast on penguin eggs and chicks. However, commercial krill fishing is now the main threat to penguins because krill is by far the major source of food for penguins. Krill is mainly used for aquarium and aquaculture feed, but a small percentage is consumed by people as omega-3 fatty acid supplements.
Text and photos by Peeter Pōldre
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