Massive Penguin Die-Off Blamed on Starvation > 공지사항

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A new study reveals that between 2004 and 2011, roughly 62,000 breeding African penguins off the coast of South Africa — in colonies on Dassen Island and Robben Island — likely starved to death after sardine stocks plunged, cutting off their main food source. During their annual molt — when penguins cannot hunt and rely on fat reserves — the lack of prey proved fatal. Since 1956, African penguin breeding pairs have dropped from an estimated 141,000 to fewer than 10,000 today. The decline has been driven by overfishing, habitat degradation, and climate-related shifts in prey supply. Conservation measures have begun, including fishing bans around key colonies — but scientists warn that without restoring stable food supplies, the species remains at great risk. (Washington Post, December 4, 2025)

What caused a massive die-off of penguins off the South African coast? - The Washington Post