Mysterious penguin disappears winter

New Zealand scientists are embarking on research to find the solution of one of nature's great mysteries: the disappearance of a penguin species every winter.

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According to Xinhua, scientists from New Zealand's Institute of Atmospheric and Water Research (NIWA), sponsored by National Geographic (USA), will study rockhopper penguins (penguins). Small in Antarctica, New Zealand and Falkland Islands) disappear when winter comes.

Rockhopper penguin - (Photo: arkive.org)

Under the plan, the group will arrive at the breeding ground of the bird in Campbell Island, New Zealand to attach 88 miniature tracking cards to the penguin's feet. They hope that based on the information gathered from these tags, they will find out where they go when winter comes, the distribution and use of their habitats.

'We don't know where they go every winter - scientist David Thompson of NIWA said - I don't think they go too far because they can't fly, even though they can swim fast'.

'Maybe winter is an important period in their reproductive cycle. To raise young birds, they need to return to Campbell Island at the beginning of the breeding season in good condition , 'Thompson added.

According to scientists, from 1942-1985, Campbell's rockhopper penguins dropped from about 800,000 pairs of breeding birds to only 51,000 pairs and the decline continued.

'They have not reached extinction in the near future, but this is a huge decline , ' Thompson said. He also hypothesized that they lacked food reserves, which led to a rapid decline.

Adult rockhopper penguins can be 40cm tall, weigh 4kg, distinguished from other penguin breeds in places with red eyes and yellow crests.