I am damn damn damn saddened by the previous post.... Please people, spread the news of this all around. Raise awareness. Tell people about SOS. For unity is strength!
Ok today I shall talk about this animal called the Jackass penguin. Also known as the black-footed penguin.
Here are some things you probably didnt know....
1] there are 18 species of penguins.
2] the shortest penguin is the fairy penguin. [41cm tall]
3] the tallest penguin is the emperor penguin. [1.1m]
4] More than half of the penguin species are found in places that seldom, if never, snows. Contrast the belief that penguins live in cold icy areas.
Ok now about this particular penguin we are talking about now. The jackass penguin...
1] it got it's name from its call, which sounds like a jackass or donkey braying.
2] It inhabits the coastal waters of South Africa. Though it's the only penguin species there. But think! Penguins in Africa!
3] Jackass penguins looks for food daily and as many as 3000 penguins may be one area. [cool right?]
BUT THESE PENGUINS ARE IN PERIL.
They are now hunted for food and oil to the extent that they are completely wiped out from Robben Island in South Africa. On the bright side, they were reintroduced to the island 180 after they went extinct.
People get the eggs of these penguins. Although it has been made illegal since 1968, but oh no one cares a damn and this is still going on.
What's more, oil pollution that are worsening and newly introduced animals such as the feral cats are threating the penguins even more. Especially the cats for they prey heavily on this penguins for food.
What I dont get is, who exactly does the "introducing of new animals" to the island? If it's humans, then why did they introduced the cats after they introduced the penguins to the island?
More reasons on why these penguins are becoming extinct....
* Harvesting of eggs for human consumption.
* Reduction of the penguin's food supply by commercial fishing.
* Oil pollution from oil tankers. This could devastate the major colonies. Oil tankers may illegally clean out their tanks as they pass round the Cape to fill up with oil in the middle east.
* Large-scale removal of guano in the 19th century has decreased the ability of penguins to construct nests through burrowing. This has led to increased competition for breeding space with larger animals such as seals. Penguins breeding on the mainland are vulnerable to mainland predators not found on islands, such as leopards, genets and domestic dogs and cats, and also to human disturbance unless the colonies are adequately fenced and patrolled.
sources: blackle search engine's first result, beforehand knowledge and "Little Red Dot" issue 16 this yr
