Landau, March 27, 2026. The Humboldt penguin population has been severely reduced in recent years due to factors including the El Niño climate phenomenon, the highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza, overfishing, bycatch, and disturbances at breeding sites (1). Avian influenza (H5N1) has recently been detected again in Chile. On March 4, 2026, the State Agency for Agriculture and Livestock (SAG) confirmed the presence of wild animals in the Valparaíso region. Meteorologists are predicting a “super El Niño” for the end of the year. (2) As if all this were not threatening enough, President Kast’s new government is also halting the implementation of the “Humboldt Penguin Natural Monument” project. In doing so, those in charge are depriving this species—whose very existence is under serious threat—of potential protection (see “Kast Administration Halts ...” March 19, 2026).
In this dire situation, the NGO Acorema (Peru) and the Sphenisco Foundation in Chile are asking people to help promote the "Show Your Face!" campaign. Sphenisco is therefore asking penguin lovers, partners, and members to support the "Show Your Face!" campaign on World Penguin Day (around April 25) or at another appropriate time.
Procedure - What needs to be done?
1. Presentation of the latest population figures and the main causes of the sharp decline or extinction. In Chile, the decline is 63% (breeding population); in Peru, it is 70% (moulting population) (see the “Decline” poster and the “Causes” poster; both images are available for download in German).
2. Penguin lovers and supporters are asked to have their photo taken in a labeled frame (see photo of the event in Biobio). Participants do not need to give their names, though they are welcome to do so. It is advisable and legally required to provide participants with precise information ("Information on Consent" PDF and DOCX files; both documents are available for download in German).
3. Design of the labeled frame
3.1 Header and footer: “Let’s save the Humboldt penguin together!” and “¡Salvemos juntos al pingüino de Humboldt!” (the same for all participants).
3.2 Left and right sides: Information from local volunteers.
4. Design and publication of the photo galleries
4.1 Create photo galleries in 4:3 format using multiple images (for example: 4 rows of 5 photos each or 3 rows of 4 photos each).
4.2 Send all photo galleries (4:3 aspect ratio) to Sphenisco. The association will publish the galleries on its website and forward them to Acorema and Sphenisco Chile. Both partners will publish them on their websites and/or on their Facebook and Instagram accounts. In doing so, they remind their country’s officials of their duty to better protect the Humboldt penguin. Local activists may, of course, also publish the galleries on their own websites and/or social media accounts, provided they indicate this in the “Consent Information.”
5. Local operators may be required to name a (local) contact person and, if applicable, provide additional addresses for planned publications in the “Consent Information.” A sample of the “Consent Information” is attached. The draft has been reviewed and approved by the legal counsel of the Rhineland-Palatinate State Media Authority.
The Sphenisco Chile Foundation and the NGO Acorema in Peru are planning to hold the “Show Your Face!” campaign on World Penguin Day. In Germany, Luisenpark Mannheim, Krefeld Zoo, and Landau Zoo have already confirmed their participation. Hellabrunn Zoo, Dresden Zoo, Schwerin Zoo, and Neumünster Zoo welcome the campaign but have not yet made a decision.
Humboldt penguins are facing a crisis that threatens their survival and depend on brave supporters and friends. Let’s do everything we can to save them!
W. K.
Notes
For the sake of readability, the generic masculine form is used in this article. Unless otherwise indicated, the terms used to refer to people in this article apply to all genders
(1) Simeone, A., P. Arce, M. Daigre, U. Ellenberg, T. Mattern. 2026. Size of the Humboldt penguin breeding population on islands in north-central Chile (2024/2025). Final Report: Proyecto Sphenisco. Santiago, Chile. 18 pp.
(2) Article “Humboldt penguin population reduced by nearly two-thirds” from March 25, 2026, on this page.
translated by Claudia Fawer
