Last week, 512 Magellanic penguins were found dead on beaches of Brazil’s Rio Grande do Sul state. They seemed to be in good state, not malnourished or with oil stains, so now researchers analyze some of the bodies in order to find out what could have killed them.
The Magellanic penguins breed in Argentina and Chile, usually migrating north between March and September. One possible cause of the massive dying, according to BBC News, could be shifting currents and colder-than-usual temperatures.
It is expected that the cause of the death will be known next month, as researchers at Porto Alegre University are currently analyzing 30 samples from the penguins.
Apparently, this year the penguins are going unusually north, reaching the beaches of Rio de Janeiro, which may be bad for their health. The authorities are already planning to take them back to southern waters.
Photo: Guglielmo Celata
Penguins
Susanne Akesson
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