Humboldt penguins (Spheniscus humboldti) are threatened in their home along the Pacific coast of South America. This bird species is a conservation priority at the Philadelphia Zoo, which participates in the Species Survival Plan (SSP) for managing the population of Humboldt penguins at North American zoos, and also helps the penguins in the wild.
In 2001, Zoo staff and volunteers participated in a program in Peru to monitor Humboldt penguin populations and the harvesting of guano along the southern coast. Humboldt penguins make their nests in rocky areas covered with guano, or bird droppings, which is mined for fertilizer. Unfortunately, the mining disrupts the penguins' nesting areas. During past seasons, as much as 12 percent of the penguin population has died during the guano harvesting operations.
The Zoo and other monitors eliminated this conflict between human and wildlife needs in the most recent harvest, and created a new partnership between American zoos, Peruvian students and researchers, and the guano harvesters. The Zoo continues to support a long-term program in Peru to preserve essential habitat for the Humboldt penguin.
In March 2007, zoo educator Siobhan Donnelly traveled to Punta San Juan to monitor another guano harvest. Check out her blogs from Peru . While at Punta San Juan, Siobhan helped to develop an education program about wildlife for local residents. In addition to guano harvesting, Humboldt penguins are threatened by fishing which depletes their food source and kills penguins outright through net entanglement. People also kill penguins or take their eggs for food. A local awareness campaign and education program will help address these problems and keep penguins safe for years to come.