The African Penguin is turning into becoming endangered due to more than one motive. One fundamental cause is that there is overfishing where they live, and which means that they can locate food without problems because fish is their number one food. Those were two oil spills since 1990 which has oiled and killed 30,000 African Penguins.
One question we ran across in our research was “Why is the Penguin endangered species?”.
Introduced species, such as dogs, carry diseases that can spread to penguins as well, and cats pose a threat as predators. Why is the penguin endangered? Why are penguins becoming endangered?
Are Penguins facing extinction?
Well, the answer is not that simple. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), there are five species of penguins that are facing extinction and seven species are listed as vulnerable. The remaining species of penguins are at different levels of endangerment.
Why are galapagos penguins endangered?
This is the only penguin species found north of the equator and in the Galápagos. Introduced species, such as dogs, carry diseases that can spread to penguins as well, and cats pose a threat as predators.
The breeding pattern of these penguins is dependent on climate, and adverse climate can lead to an unfavorable breeding session. One reason for this penguin’s endangered status is an El Nino event in 1982 that wiped out 77% of the population of Galapagos penguin.
My best answer was Galapagos penguins are the rarest and most endangered penguin species in the world, and the only penguins that can be found at the equator. Unlike most cold water penguins, they have several adaptations that allow them to tolerate the warmer climate of Galapagos.
What are the Predators of the Galapagos penguins?
In the water, predators like sharks and fur seals attack the penguins. El Niño increases the temperature of the sea water, which in turn kills off a lot of plankton and fish, while the fish being the main diet of the Galápagos Penguins.
What are the different types of endangered penguins?
Some types of penguins are already endangered, which means their population is getting so small that they are in danger of no longer being in existence. The African penguin and Galápagos penguin are both considered endangered. In fact, there are believed to be less than two thousand Galápagos penguins left in the world.
Then, what is the most common threat to penguins?
One answer is, the common threats to this species of penguin are oil spills and an irregular breeding pattern. Galapagos Penguin (Spheniscus mendiculus) – This species of endangered penguin is the only species that is found North of the equator in the Galapagos islands.
Why are the Galapagos Islands in danger of extinction?
The Galápagos Islands are situated west of Ecuador, South America. El Niño occurs in the center and the east of the Pacific Ocean; which is near the Galápagos Islands. Many people illegally fish, and to top that, there are many legal fisheries too.