Tailor-made : In the News

More penguins populate Isla Noir: 13-11-2007

Nature enthusiasts visiting Chile will be glad to know that the distinctive southern rockhopper penguins on Isla Noir have increased in numbers despite being threatened by declines in previous decades.

The colony of the Eudyptes chrysocom family of penguins on Isla Noir is arguably the most important in the whole of South America.

Chilean scientists report that the number of the yellow-crested southern rockhoppers has increased to 316,000 in total, after falling for many years.

Alejandro Kusch began studying the Isla Noir penguins in 2003 and with US conservationists has tracked penguins via satellite to learn more about the creatures as well as monitor their numbers.

For the future, environmentalists hope a seven-year study will enable them to develop a conservation plan for the Isla Noir penguins, so that the population will continue to thrive in the coming years.