Date:
October 22, 2014
Source:
PLOS
Summary:
Abandoned penguin chicks
that were hand-reared and returned to the wild showed a similar
survival rate to their naturally-reared counterparts.
Abandoned
penguin chicks that were hand-reared and returned to the wild showed a
similar survival rate to their naturally-reared counterparts, according
to a study published October 22, 2014 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Richard Sherley from University of Cape Town and colleagues.
The Endangered African penguin population has been rapidly decreasing
since 2001. In the Western Cape of South Africa, penguins breed from
February to September and moult between September and January, once
chicks have fledged. If adult penguins begin the moulting process, a 21
day period where they no longer have the waterproofing necessary to dive
for food, with chicks in the nest, the chicks may starve. Southern
African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB)
recovers 'abandoned' penguin chicks that are no longer being fed and
cares for them until they can be reintroduced into breeding colonies.
Researchers documented the care, release, and survival of over 840 and
480, in 2006 and 2007 respectively, hand-reared chicks.
Of those admitted, 91% and 73% respectively were released into the wild. Post-release juvenile and adult survival rates were similar to recent survival rates recorded for naturally-reared birds. By December 2012 researchers observed that 12 birds had bred, six at their colony of origin. The authors suggest that hand-rearing of 'abandoned' penguin chicks may be a useful conservation tool to limit mortality and to strengthen the population at specific colonies. "Over the last decade, food availability has decreased dramatically for penguins breeding in Western South Africa and many birds now struggle to rear their chicks before they need to initiate moult. Hand-reared chicks can sustain populations in the short-term and help us understand how we might create new breeding colonies in areas of higher food availability," said Dr. Sherley.
Of those admitted, 91% and 73% respectively were released into the wild. Post-release juvenile and adult survival rates were similar to recent survival rates recorded for naturally-reared birds. By December 2012 researchers observed that 12 birds had bred, six at their colony of origin. The authors suggest that hand-rearing of 'abandoned' penguin chicks may be a useful conservation tool to limit mortality and to strengthen the population at specific colonies. "Over the last decade, food availability has decreased dramatically for penguins breeding in Western South Africa and many birds now struggle to rear their chicks before they need to initiate moult. Hand-reared chicks can sustain populations in the short-term and help us understand how we might create new breeding colonies in areas of higher food availability," said Dr. Sherley.
Story Source:
The above story is based on materials provided by PLOS. Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.
The above story is based on materials provided by PLOS. Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.
Journal Reference:
- Richard B. Sherley, Lauren J. Waller, Venessa Strauss, Deon Geldenhuys, Les G. Underhill, Nola J. Parsons. Hand-Rearing, Release and Survival of African Penguin Chicks Abandoned Before Independence by Moulting Parents. PLoS ONE, 2014; 9 (10): e110794 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0110794
PLOS.
"Rescued 'abandoned' penguin chicks survival similar to colony rates."
ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 22 October 2014.
<www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/10/141022143630.htm>.
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