Portal de Periódicos da CAPES

Airdrops and king penguins: a potential conservation problem at sub-Antarctic Marion Island

1994; Cambridge University Press; Volume: 30; Issue: 175 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1017/s0032247400024530

1475-3057

John Cooper, Nico L. Avenant, Peter W. Lafite,

Marine animal studies overview

ABSTRACT Evidence for the disturbance of king penguins ( Aptenodytes patagonicus ) and other seabirds at sub-Antarctic islands by fixed-wing aircraft making airdrops is reviewed. Based on direct observations of panicking birds at king penguin colonies at Marion Island as Lockheed C-130 Hercules aircraft flew past, it is postulated that the incident at Macquarie Island in 1990 when many king penguins were found dead shortly after a flypast was most likely caused by panic induced by the aircraft's passage. Visits by fixed-wing aircraft to sub-Antarctic islands should be kept to a minimum and no airstrips should be built on them. Specific recommendations are given for fixed-wing aircraft visits to Marion Island, in order to reduce disturbance to king penguins and other seabirds to the absolute minimum. These recommendations should be adopted at all sub-Antarctic islands.