World Penguin Day in Chile and Peru

Coquimbo, Chile; Pisco, Peru; Landau, Germany April 25, 2024.

Good News for Sphenisco on the World Penguin Day.

In Chile, the newspaper El Norte reports that the Humboldt Penguin has been declared the “symbolic bird of the Humboldt Current”. In Fort Lambert (Coquimbo) representatives of authorities and organizations from science and civil society met to proclaim the endangered Humboldt Penguin the “symbol bird of the important marine ecosystem of the Humboldt Current”. The campaign was initiated by “Chile” and “Red Aves” (see article “Humboldt Penguin - Symbolic bird of the Humboldt Current” on these pages). Together with 39 other organizations in Chile and Peru, the representatives of the two environmental groups, Nancy Duman and Marcelo Olivares, signed an appeal to take action to prevent the imminent extinction of the Humboldt Penguin.

Nancy Duman commented on the importance of the initiative by saying: “We need to remember that the Humboldt Penguin is an endemic species of the Humboldt Current and its population has declined dramatically over the last 25 years. If we don't take action, this species could disappear. It is therefore of enormous importance that we follow the declaration and take action to protect this endangered species”.

Dr. Guillermo Luna, scientist at the University Católoca del Norte - UCN in Coquimbo added: “This day is very relevant for science. If we protect the Humboldt Penguin, we will protect the entire ecosystem. By declaring the Humboldt Penguin a symbolic bird, we are also calling for the protection of all the other components of biodiversity that exist in the Humboldt Current ecosystem”.

In addition, Nancy Duman pointed out that the declaration is a bi-national declaration that organizations in Peru and Chile are joining and that - parallel to the event here in Fort Lambert - actions are also taking place in Pisco, Peru on the occasion of the World Penguin Day.

Activities, which Señora Milagros Ormeño B. illustrated with numerous pictures on the same day (photos 4-9).

She writes on Facebook about the various activities for the World Penguin Day: “Today on Thursday, April 25, ACOREMA finishes a series of activities that have been carried out for the World Penguin Day in the past week. In doing so the focus is on the declaration of the Humboldt Penguin as the “Symbolic bird of the great marine ecosystem of the Humboldt Current”. ACOREMA publishes the declaration “Humboldt Penguin - Symbolic bird of the Humboldt Current” simultaneously with our friends from Sphenisco Chile”.

What a great idea - effectively implemented. Sphenisco hopes that the campaign will find broad and dynamic support.

W.K.

translated into English by Angelika Veelken