Endangered Penguins -

The 6th World Penguin Conference was held in Hobart, Tasmania back in September 2007. These gatherings are only held every 4 years so the pronouncements from this assembly of 170 the world's penguin scientists from 13 countries are still very current.  Of the 17 recognized species of penguins 12 are on the current World Conservation Union (IUCN) Red list of threatened species.

The solitary yellow-eyed penguin found in New Zealand and its off shore islands to the south is one of the most endangered mostly due to loss of its forrest scrubland breeding habitat and predation. The Yellow-eyed Penguin Trust is working hard to restore coast forest and control predators.

Galapagos penguins, and erect-crested penguins, are also classified as endangered while African penguins, and Fiordland crested penguins are considered vulnerable. Many of  the species that are not directly threatened by loss of habitat or food supply are affect by global warming and this particularly applies to the Antarctic species the Adelie, chinstrap and emperor penguins. 

 The Adelie is the most studied penguin as it is a so called indicator species. It's breeding success or other wise can shed light on the state food supply namely the krill which are very much more difficult to monitor.  As such this species is often referred to as the "canary in the coal-mine" of Antarctica.  Radar tracking of their foraging pattens using time depth sensor that can also be interrogated when they return to the nest reveals how much effort was expended in each fishing expedition, where they went and how deep they dived.