Newsletter February – March+++Newsletter February – March+++Newsletter February
Landau, 7th of April 2025
C H I L E
+++Sphenisco Chile+++
Sphenisco Chile is focusing its work this year on citizen participation in the design of the Humboldt Archipelago Marine Protected Area. Nancy Duman's team will hold audiences with all the new regional and municipal authorities in the municipalities of La Higuera, Coquimbo, Freirina, La Serena, as well as the governors and environmental advisors in the regions of Atacama and Coquimbo. During the talks, the employees will advocate for the protection of the archipelago and its sustainable use. In addition to ongoing advocacy, the team plans to repeat the successful literary competition “the Humboldt Archipelago in 110 words” and continue the Sintonía Humboldt video podcast. The following projects are also to be realized:
- “Humboldt Penguins in the Neighborhood” (murals in villages),
- Humboldt Archipelago” traveling photo exhibition in the communities of La Higuera and Coquimbo,
- Organization of natural history hikes,
- the establishment of information points in the village of Chungungo and near Yerba buena.
+++New employee+++
Valeria Canto joined the Sphenisco Chile team on 1st of March. Señora Canto has studied pedagogy and management of wildlife reserves and has acquired additional training in environmental education, environmental impact assessment and sustainable land management. She has professional experience in knowledge transfer, citizen science, environmental education, citizen participation and working with agricultural and indigenous communities on biodiversity conservation, ecological restoration, climate change mitigation and adaptation.
+++Judgement in favor of the “Dominga” project +++
The environmental court in Antofagasta has once again ruled in the “Dominga” case and “ordered” the government to make a new decision within ten days. Allianza Humboldt and the NGO Oceana published a press release on 17th of February (see article “Unlawful ruling in favor of Dominga” from 22nd of February 2025).
Following the ruling, it was decided that the judges of the First Environmental Court of Antofagasta may not rule further on the new appeals lodged by environmental organizations against the Dominga project. The reason given for this decision was that judges cannot rule again in a case in which they have already ruled. According to the law and existing regulations, the Second Environmental Court in Santiago is now responsible and will decide on the appeals.
In addition to the Environmental Court in Santiago, the Corte Suprema, the Court of Appeal in Antofagasta, the Environmental Court in Antofagasta (for formalities, not substantive decisions) and the State Defense Council are also currently involved in the “Dominga” case.
+++Doctoral scholarship+++
Since September 2024, Sphenisco has been funding Karen Lau's doctoral thesis at the Catholic University of Coquimbo in northern Chile. The work on the Humboldt penguin focuses on comparing the energy consumption of individuals in colonies in northern and southern Chile and on analyzing the nutritional ecology and growth of chicks in Peru and Chile. The aim is to clarify how the marine environment of the “Humboldt Current” system influences the survival of this species. The results will be of crucial importance for the development of conservation strategies and binational management plans.
P E R U
+++Environmental education+++
Since 2010, Acorema has been organizing environmental education on behalf of Sphenisco in the province of Ica and now also in parts of the province of Lima. At the beginning of February, Sphenisco signed a new contract with the NGO for educational measures in the period from February 1, 2025 to January 31, 2027. The program is entitled “Strengthening conservation measures for the Humboldt penguin on the central coast of Peru”. The objectives are
- Greater involvement and empowerment of the local population in the protection of the Humboldt Penguin.
- Create new opportunities to promote the conservation of the Humboldt Penguin and its habitat in areas with the most important breeding colonies on the Peruvian coast.
- Consolidation of conservation measures for the Humboldt Penguin and its habitat by various interest groups in the Ica region and the coastal communities south of Lima.
E U R O P E
+++World Penguin Day & Conservation Days+++
The following activities are planned to mark World Penguin Day on 25th of April:
Bochum
On Sunday, 27th of April, Bochum Zoo is putting the Humboldt penguins at the center of an event with a variety of topics such as climate change, overfishing and plastic waste. The event will be organized with network partners. Information and hands-on stands invite you to a colorful experience for the whole family.
Dortmund
On 27th of April 2025, Dortmund Zoo will also be celebrating World Penguin Day with a special program for visitors of all ages. From 10:00 to 16:00, everything will revolve around the fascinating tailcoats. There will be informative guided tours where you can learn interesting facts about the different penguin species and their habitat. There will be craft activities and games on the subject of penguins for younger guests.
Landau
To mark World Penguin Day, Landau Zoo, together with Sphenisco and the Zoo School, is organizing the “Together for the protection of the endangered Humboldt penguins” campaign day on Sunday, 27th of April.
Saarbrücken
Saarbrücken Zoo gets to the heart of the matter. “Some are small, some are big. Some like it cold, others don't. This and much more can be learned about our penguins” on World Penguin Day on 25th of April. The zoo is calling on everyone to support Sphenisco e.V. in protecting the Humboldt penguins.
Osnabrück
Osnabrück Zoo is planning a species conservation day for 15th of June. Sphenisco will be represented at the event with numerous information stands and presentations by Meike Kagel (Tierpark Bochum).
+++Penguin Friends Cuxhaven+++
On 1st of March, the “Pinguinfreunde Cuxhaven e.V.” held their Annual General Meeting for the last financial year of the association. Among other things, the meeting had to pass a resolution on the distribution of the association's assets in the event of its imminent dissolution. The members followed the Board's proposal and unanimously decided to allocate an amount of around €3,000 to each of the associations that had already received support in previous years. Sphenisco therefore received an initial donation of € 1,700 in March, which can be used freely for a project.
In the fall, when the association “Pinguinfreunde Cuxhaven e.V.” is officially dissolved, Sphenisco is expected to receive the remaining assets of the association in the amount of another € 1,300 in accordance with the statutes.
+++General Meeting 2025+++
This year's general meeting of Sphenisco will take place on Saturday, 28th of June 2025. The board invites all members and supporters to Landau at 2 p.m. in the Zoo School or to the video conference.
Anyone who receives the conference ID and password from us can take part in the video conference. The ID and password for the video conference will be communicated on 28th of June at 1:30 pm.
For the video conference and alternatively the meeting in Landau, please register at the email
+++Donations, donations, donations+++
The BDZ professional association of zoo keepers has announced that it will donate €500 to Sphenisco to mark World Penguin Day.
In the reporting period, February and March 2025, the following individuals and institutions donated to Sphenisco's species conservation projects: Kathrin Ballenthin, Zoo am Meer Bremerhaven, Pinguinfreunde Cuxhaven e.V., Anja Seifen, Paultons Park, Hampshire, England, Frankfurt Zoo, Marc Wiemer, Melissa Ott.
W. K.
translated by Claudia Fawer