The mystery of King Penguins

It was the biggest colony of King Penguins in the world, two million of subjects that were used to live a small island in Southern Indian Ocean, but now something happened and halved the populations, leaving only 200 thousand penguins: a decrease of 90%, a mystery, like researchers said.

Scientists of Biological Study Center of Chizè, in France, warned about this problem with a research published on Antarctic Science. Researchers focused on Ile aux Chocons, Pigs’ Island, among Crozet Islands, near the Antarctica.

The place is isolated and very difficult to reach: scientists went there for the last time in 1982. Satellite pictures with some photos captured from an helicopter are the only way to know the state of the area, that surprised the biologists.

Where there used to be penguins, now vegetation is gaining lands. According to the study authors this decline began in late 90s and it could has been provoked by an intense event on Nino, the phenomenon that warms ocean waters.

So the fish penguins usually eat could have moved towards South to find colder waters, with a decrease in food for penguins. Another hypothesis says that the island overcrowding could have increased the competition between penguins. Maybe a disease, like avian cholera that is now affecting Marion Island’s penguins.

A shipment will leave soon, while now no hypothesis seems enough to explain such a decrease, researcher said.