Hundreds of Dead Baby Penguins Wash Up on Rio de Janeiro's Beaches

Many were covered in petrol. Ahh no doubt people will still say that off shore drilling is fine and safe.

This is just so sad. And then, there are some people that have the nerve to say that global warming is not happening! We all need to be the change we want to see. Along with the polar bears drowning, this is an absolute tragedy!

People have the nerve to say global warming is not happening?! There is an inherit problem with assuming theory as fact, and I think the nerve of people is in those that don't speculate. I am an environmental lover, I don't want to read stories like this, but it doesn't mean that I am going to criticize people that question global warming because one person wants to blame this issue on it, out of blunt hypothesis only with no research to point either way.

Unbelievably sad, it could be they're migrating away from sort of trouble spot - possibly overfishing, or a new predator or possibly swimming away from oil or pollution in the water.

Babies are human. Young penguins are chicks.

YOU know it's sad but what's really sad is people get more worked up about Baby Penguins, then they do about Human Babies , now that's sad!

Where does it say that they were covered in Petrol?

uhhh... all those penguins look alive to me...

I am amazed at what is blamed on global warming that is not even occurring, a cooling is - 0.6. No scientific evidence to support that CO2 can cause warming and even if it did anthropogenic is a mere 2%. Come on folks, the simple minded always have a simplistic boogie man to blame something on, the weather is very complicated and can not fit into a computer model as the ocean can not fit into a pool.

I am amazed at what is blamed on global warming that is not even occurring, a cooling is - 0.6. No scientific evidence to support that CO2 can cause warming and even if it did anthropogenic is a mere 2%. Come on folks, the simple minded always have a simplistic boogie man to blame something on, the weather is very complicated and can not fit into a computer model as the ocean can not fit into a pool.

Maybe they just wanted warmer weather?

Yumm penguins...

What a tragedy
I know with pelican birds that they hatch 2 birds but only keep the stronger one
This may be the case here - but with currents going astray and washing the deceased birds on shore

It's sad that human grown ups don't see how the dead penguins are a symptom of what will soon be killing their human babies. All of us, humans and animals breathe the same pollutants and need to share the beauty and wonder together. Imagine a baby growning up in world devoid of wildlife. Just a baby growing up in a plastic world of wall marts... love that quality of life!!!

Penguins are delightful and ODD flightless birds. In some ways they are the canaries of our global scene because their lives are so OUT there in the elements all year round. Whether you stick with chicks or babies... they have young that hatch. And whether you like global warming ideas or not, this many dead animals of one kind all at once in once place is NOT normal. Alarms need to be sounding in our brains and in our hearts. And then comes the calls for action.
"Live each day as if it is your first and leave it as if it were your last."
dpbessken http://birdsight.com

Probably caused by Navy related experiments with sonar or other out of sight/underwater nefarious acts to "research" global warming in the most remote parts of the world where nobody can see!
Or mabye Monsanto tests their GMOs there$$

I think its a combination of both polution, and climate change.

Everything here is hearsay and conjecture. The scope of it is astounding in the ability and desire to apply an answer where one is clearly not available. I am no apologist; quite to the contrary I like nothing better than assigning blame where it is due. But this rush to judgement is simply ridiculous...

Speaking of ridiculous; Rick, no evidence that CO2 can cause warming? Computer models compared to oceans in pools? I concur much of this banter is completely without merit, but nonsense like that does nothing for your point...

Red tide, food shortages, pollution...; these are all likely scenarios and all anthropogenically linked. To be sure it seems likely that man's poor treatment of his home is to blame somehow. But to leap at conclusions without scientific data (sadly lacking in this article, which should have waited for some to publish) is to convey to the rest of the populace that treehuggers are starry eyed idealists who consistently propose the sky is falling, and that is damaging to our cause...

"YOU know it's sad but what's really sad is people get more worked up about Baby Penguins, then they do about Human Babies , now that's sad!"

im sure if human babies washed up dead on shore with oil on them that it would spark a lot more attention than this story will ever get.

besides we know that there is no problems with humans and their ability to populate. So i dont think we need to worry about human babies any time soon.

I was going to rant about why Treehugger should be providing their readers with links to related credible research when something like this is posted but... we're all smart enough to go do that on our own, rather than making preposterous claims in a comment thread, right? Yeah...

The penguins' habitat has obviously been disrupted. Anyone can speculate what is happening, but nobody can be absolutely sure. All species that are not able to adapt to environmental changes throughout history are subject to endangerment or extinction. Humans are not exempt. What makes us different?

It starts with antartic birds, polar bears, bees and many more animals to come. People forget that we are an animal species that also must live on this planet. If we can not stop this and reverse global warming then humans are not far behind in becoming a threatend species. Once we pass a certain point, there is no turning back. I fear that we may be entering a very dark part of human and global history.

Global Warming (which should actually be called Climate Change) or NOT any creature dying of unusual circumstances is STILL something we should atleast be somewhat interested in. We should stop arguing and take some action before its too late.

To helpful gardener: How can you say that there are no problems with human babies? And that if there were people would act?? Check out the statistics on birth defects, asthma, ADD, cancer, Autism, diabetes and other serious health condition of babies and children. Go visit the overflowing cancer ward at a Children's Hopsital (the fact that these even exist is a tragedy). Oh, and let's not forget the reproductive problems women are having and the booming and profitable fertility industry. That other species are also effected is no surprise at all. Why would people be called to action over penguins when our children are in such poor health and we simply shrug our shoulders and medicate them? Human nature doesn't lead us to find an eliminate the cause, it propels us to look for a cure (once we've admitted to a problem, and many haven't gotten that far). Meanwhile the health of our children and nation is in jeopardy.

The penguins in that picture aren't even South American. Those are African Penguins and they appear to be at Boulders Beach in Cape Town, South Africa. Now, it doesn't really effect the point of the story, but it would be nice to have a picture of some of the breed of penguin that is being affected.

Your right, I have much more concern for the penguins. Half our aquatic species populations are crashing the other half aren't safe to eat or have sustainable quantities. But by all means lets have more babies to contribute to the problem. Our brilliant species will do what every other species does- populate itself beyond its food capacity. The only problem is we will take every other species down with us. Now that is too bad.

I just want to draw attention to the fact that as the planet's population heads towards 9 billion people, anyone that claims that climate change has nothing to do with human activity must be classed as a moron?

The planet earth is a closed system - just like a fishbowl or aquarium. It may be news to some of you out there, but you can't stick unlimited fish into the bowl - try it and see what happens.

We are heading down the same track. I'll give the planet another 50 years of "business as usual" Human activity(100 at the most) before we finally realise we have arrived up shit creek without the paddle in a barb wire canoe.

The Earth will survive, it is just us selfish humans that will take a well over due culling. Feel sorry for the kids and future generations - they are going to inherit a pretty unhealthy place.

J.

I do not understand how some people feel that CO2 does not contribute to global warming. If we do not have a sufficient amount of trees and forests to absorb the CO2, what do you think happens to it? It does not just disappear. As far as those poor precious penguins are concerned, well, I think we need to put our focus on what is happening and not why. Obviously something caused all of these animals to die at such a tender age. It is not the norm, nor is it the norm for a bunch of baby penguins to justt migrate so far to the sea for no reason whatsoever. They obviously were trying to get to something to ensure their survival, yet sadly, it did not help them at all...

This is quite sad. We need to fix pollution and fishing problems. Animals are like people to me they breathe and bleed just like us.

I cannot believe that things like this are happening. These poor animals! We all need to keep working together to help this planet and all living things on it. Governments need to seriously step up their efforts across the globe!!!

I guess if we were to have it the enviro wakos ways we would all freeze in the dark

The penquins likely died from colder than normal water surrounding Antarctica. It has steadily been getting colder there over the last two years, just as the Arctic is now beginning to, especially this year. I live in Alaska and we are experiencing the coldest summer on record. NASA predicted that it would continue to get colder due to lack of Sun activity (flares) and that seems to be exactly what is happening. Contrary to popular belief, penquins, polar bears and other cold weather mammals survive better in slightly warmer temperatures, than colder. Reports on Polar Bears from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game show that numbers have tripled since 1980. The young penguins were likely exhausted by the colder Antarctic water temperatures and couldn't keep up with the adults, who are better adapted due to age. No reports of major oil spills were given, so that was likely not the problem. Antarctica continues to grow colder today, hope that they can survive!!

I was born in Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro, and was brought up by that fab beach... never saw so many dead penguins like this year.
last week I've been to Ilha Grande, a protected paradisic island south of Rio's coast, and could count 10 dead penguins and squeletoes on the sand of its deserted beaches. I've got a few pics for those who still think there is nothing going wrong...

I was born in Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro, and was brought up by that fab beach... never saw so many dead penguins like this year.
last week I've been to Ilha Grande, a protected paradisic island south of Rio's coast, and could count 10 dead penguins and squeletoes on the sand of its deserted beaches. I've got a few pics for those who still think there is nothing going wrong...

National geographic has interviews of the biologists in Brazil, who said thaqt out of 500 penguins washed ashore, some 473 were all being cleaned up and nursed back to health and would be flown back to antarctica soon.

i think this story is being over sensationalized.

Could this be related as well as global warming?

North Pacific fish being farmed in CHILI!!!?
There are no penguins in the north- so why unnatural salmon in the south???????

This article was as a warning December 30th 2007, before the hundreds of penguins ended up in Brazil…..

Invading Pacific salmon pose a threat to penguins in southern Argentina
December 30th, 2007 - 12:48 pm ICT by admin -

A file-photo of National Geographic

Washington, Dec 30 (ANI): A new study has indicated that the colonization and breeding of the Pacific Salmon in rivers in southern Argentina might threaten penguins and other marine creatures in the region.

The study focused on chinook salmon, a Pacific species that has recently become established in the Santa Cruz River system in the Patagonia region of Argentina.

DNA analysis of the Santa Cruz salmon traced the fish back to the failed salmon-ranching experiments on Chile’s Pacific Coast during the 1980s.

According to a report in the National Geographic News, the fish, which is native to the North Pacific, threaten to deprive penguins and sea mammals of foodan ever-increasing risk given the number of invasive salmon currently escaping from fish farms in neighboring Chile.

“Eastern-flowing ocean currents and fish-rich seas off southern Patagonia have likely allowed the salmon to spread to Atlantic waters,” said study team member Miguel Pascual of the Centro Nacional Patagonico in Chubut, Argentina.

“Salmon can migrate long distances in the ocean, and they can be caught almost anywhere in the Southern Ocean,” he added, referring to the waters that surround Antarctica.

The new findings could mean dire consequences for the region’s marine habitat.

“Salmon have a very healthy appetite, so they’re going to consume native fish and prey that other species are dependent on,” said Don Staniford the European representative for the Washington, D.C.-based environmental group Pure Salmon Campaign.

In fact, models indicate that a “medium-size population” of chinook salmons could match the food consumption of the entire penguin population of southern Patagonia

“The cooler waters of southern Argentina make the region most vulnerable to invasion, and the area’s trout rivers are likely targets for the invasive salmon,” the journal quoted Pascual as saying.

“You’ve got a recipe for potential ecological disaster,” said Staniford.

The research team also warns that the number of salmon finding their way to Argentina is likely to grow as Chile moves forward to become the largest farmed salmon producer in the world.

In addition, salmon escapes from Chilean farms are spiraling out of control as well.

“Millions of fish reportedly escaped in a single incident last year, when an earthquake triggered a mini-tsunami that hit salmon farms in Chile’s Aysen region,” said Staniford. “In addition to competing with penguins and sea mammals for prey, escapees can spread disease and parasitic sea lice that affect wild fish,” he added. (ANI)