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Zoo News
RZSS Helps Smooth a Rocky Road for Penguins
26 June 2008
The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) has taken the first step in a dedicated conservation programme that will help to ensure the survival of rockhopper penguin populations. RZSS, the charity that runs Edinburgh Zoo and Highland Wildlife Park, recently hosted a workshop with conservation experts from across the world to discuss the declining rockhopper population including the colonies that breed on the islands around Tristan da Cunha.
As an immediate response, RZSS has provided £20,000 to allow conservation workers to purchase a boat so they can move easily between the nest sites on Tristan da Cunha and the surrounding islands. This will ultimately allow them to carry out a survey on the existing population, monitor any fluctuations and investigate the possible reasons for decline.
The island of Tristan da Cunha is the most remote island in the world, being situated over 1,900km from St Helena and 2,400km west of Cape Town. The island, which is a UK Overseas Territory, is the main breeding ground for rockhopper penguins. This unique and charismatic penguin species has been in serious decline for the past 60 years. The reasons for this are not clear which is why further study must be conducted.
Trevor Glass, Conservation Officer for Tristan da Cunha, said:
“The workshop demonstrated how important Tristan’s rockhopper penguin colonies are, and the need to establish accurate counts of breeding pairs and numbers of chicks reared on each island is a real priority. We are extremely grateful to the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland for the funding that will now make this possible. Importantly, it will also allow the conservation team on Tristan to implement some of the many other initiatives that have been agreed in the Tristan da Cunha Biodiversity Action Plan.”
Rob Thomas, Conservation & Research Manager for RZSS, said:
“After hosting the workshop at Edinburgh Zoo it was apparent that RZSS could support efforts to reverse the declining population of rockhopper penguins. The list of actions required on Tristan were all reliant on the conservation team having access to each island, therefore the purchase of a boat was the first priority. RZSS has been supporting wildlife conservation in the South Atlantic for a number of years and the importance of Tristan’s biodiversity is becoming increasingly recognized as a major part of the UK’s natural heritage
The project on Tristan da Cunha is one of many conservation projects RZSS is currently involved in. We care for rockhopper penguins at Edinburgh Zoo and it is important to link our involvement in breeding programmes in the Zoo with conservation work in the wild.”
Notes to Editors:
About Tristan da Cunha -
- Tristan da Cunha is the most isolated inhabited island in the world. It has a population of just 300.
- The capital city of Tristan da Cunha is Edinburgh. This was named following a visit from Prince Albert, who at the time was the Duke of Edinburgh, in 1867.
- Being isolated and devoid of all living organisms at its volcanic origin, the evolving flora and fauna of the island hold a special interest for scientists and visitors. The Tristan Government is keenly aware of the need to live in balance with its environment because the economy of the community is dependent on sustainable harvests of lobster and fish.
- The Department of Natural Resources is responsible for administering the Island’s strict environmental policies. Over 40% of Tristan’s territory is a declared nature reserve and Gough Island is a World Heritage Site.
- There are no indigenous terrestrial mammals on Tristan da Cunha. Man has left his mark on the main island and the introduction of rats and mice in the 1880s destroyed much of Tristan Island’s indigenous bird life. Fortunately the islands of Nightingale and Inaccessible remain rodent free and are home to several unique indigenous land birds. Continual education of new generations of Tristanians is required to safeguard their special environment.
About Rockhopper Penguins -
- Rockhopper penguins live on rocky terrain and hop from boulder to boulder, hence the name ‘ rockhopper’.
- They are a very distinctive sub-species of penguin. They have yellow crests which look like long, upward-sweeping eyebrows. Their eyes are red, their beaks reddish-brown and their feet pink.
- Of all the penguin species, rockhoppers are the most aggressive not only to humans but to each other as well.
- Rockhoppers eat a variety of fish such as pilchards, sardines and anchovies as well as squid and krill.
- Rockhoppers spend six months of the year foraging at sea, drinking seawater when thirsty.
- At Edinburgh Zoo we have a colony of 17 rockhoppers, consisting of 11 males and 6 females.
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