Skip to content

Conservation

Naked chicks are a puzzle for penguin scientists

by Laura Goodall 11 Apr 2011
Naked chicks are a puzzle for penguin scientists

Image: Researcher holding a Magellanic chick with feather-loss disorder. Credit: Jeffrey Smith, MCS

'Naked' chicks are suddenly appearing in penguin colonies in South Africa and Argentina, leaving scientists perplexed.

The bald penguin chicks have a condition called feather-loss disorder. Although all penguins are born with downy feathers, some chicks inexplicably 'moult' their down before their adult feathers arrive, leaving them temporarily bald.

To try and find out why this is happening, scientists at the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and the University of Washington have joined forces with researchers at the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB) at the Centro Nacional Patagà ³nico in Argentina.

Featherless chicks were first seen in African black-footed penguins at a rehabilitation centre in Cape Town in 2006. But when the team of scientists found bald chicks at four Magellanic penguin colonies along Argentina's coastline between 2007 and 2010, they realised that it might be a global problem.

They noticed that the featherless chicks grew more slowly than normal, took longer to get their adult feathers and were smaller in size and weight, probably because they use more energy to keep warm.

They also saw that the bald chicks behaved differently and stayed out longer in the hot midday sun rather than seeking shade as those with feathers did. This could mean that featherless chicks are more vulnerable to the elements and disease.

The scientists' biggest concern is this condition could spread to penguins living in colder regions, which may not survive without the much-needed insulation from their feathers.

''We need to learn how to stop the spread of feather-loss disorder to other species, as penguins already have problems with oil pollution and climate variation'', says Dee Boersma, biology professor at the University of Washington and head of WCS's Penguin Project, in a WCS press release. ''It's important to keep disease from being added to the list of threats they face.''

Their findings are published in the journal Waterbirds. Although they haven't yet pinpointed the cause, they are now looking into thyroid diseases, nutrient imbalances, genetics, and pathogens such as viruses.

Mariana Varese, Acting Director of WCS's Latin America and Caribbean Program, says, "More studies on this malady can help to identify the root cause, which in turn will help illuminate possible solutions.''


Trending Eco-Friendly Clothing

Love My Planet Women's Relaxed Fit Hoodie
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Love My Planet Women's Relaxed Fit Hoodie
Love My Planet women's eco-friendly relaxed fit hoodieSize Guide Centimeters 8 10 12 14 16 18 Bust 84 88 92 97 103 108 Waist 66 70 75 80 85 91 Hips 91 95 99 104 109 116 Bust: Measure around the fullest part of...
£38.00
£38.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Penguins Hate Push-Ups Men's Pullover Hoodie
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Penguins Hate Push-Ups Men's Pullover Hoodie
Penguins Hate Push-Ups men's eco-friendly pullover HoodieSize Guide Centimeters XS S M L XL XXL Height 171 175 179 183 189 195 Chest 86 93 99 104 116 129 Waist 71 76 81 89 99 112 Chest: Measure all round your chest just below...
£38.00
£38.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Lightning Bolt Kids Long Sleeve T-Shirt
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Notify me
Lightning Bolt Kids Long Sleeve T-Shirt
Lightning Bolt kids eco-friendly long sleeve t-shirtSize Guide Centimeters 3-4yrs 5-6yrs 7-8yrs 9-10yrs 11-12yrs Height 98 112 125 136 147 Chest 60 66 70 75 84 Chest: Measure all around your chest just below your armpits. Height: Your natural height If you fall between...
£18.00
£18.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Notify me
Union Jack Tote Bag
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Union Jack Tote Bag
Union Jack eco-friendly colour tote bagProduct Specification Organic Cotton Tote Bag. Twill Weave (170gsm). 37 x 42 cm (7cm gusset.) Made in India / Designed on the Isle of Wight. Wash Cool, Hang Dry.
£16.00
£16.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Prev Post
Next Post

Eco-Friendly Shop

Women's Clothing

Eco-Friendly Clothing for Women Our online shop offers a wide range of sustainable women’s clothing products, including t-shirts, hoodies, vests, sweaters, shorts, and...
Shop Now

Men's Clothing

Eco-Friendly Clothing for Men Our online shop offers a wide range of sustainable men’s clothing products, including t-shirts, hoodies, vests, sweaters, shorts, and...
Shop Now

Kids Clothing

Eco-Friendly Clothes for Kids Our online shop offers a wide range of sustainable kids clothing products, including t-shirts, hoodies and jumpers. Our garments...
Shop Now
Someone recently bought a
[time] ago, from [location]

Thanks for subscribing!

This email has been registered!

Shop the look

Choose Options

Earth Times
Sign up for exclusive updates, new arrivals & insider only discounts

Recently Viewed

Edit Option
Back In Stock Notification
this is just a warning
Login
Shopping Cart
0 items

Before you leave...

Take 20% off your first order

20% off

Enter the code below at checkout to get 20% off your first order

CODESALE20

Continue Shopping