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Story: Penguins

Eastern rockhopper penguin

Eastern rockhopper penguin

Between the 1940s and the 1980s the population of rockhopper penguins breeding on New Zealand’s Campbell Island decreased by about 94%. Drastic declines have been reported throughout much of the species’ circumpolar subantarctic range. The cause is unknown, but one reason could be the increasing sea-surface temperatures since the Second World War, causing changes to the availability of their prey. Could rockhopper penguins be the harbingers of global warming? Some scientists think so.

About this item

Private collection
Photograph by Christina Troup

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How to cite this page:

Lloyd Spencer Davis. 'Penguins', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, updated 24-Sep-11
URL: http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/penguins/7/6