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Scientists warn the species is nearing extinction within the next decade, but conservationists say there’s still hope.
Penguins on the beach in South Africa Diana Major/New England Aquarium
When hundreds of abandoned penguin chicks needed round-the-clock care in South Africa this spring, New England Aquarium penguin trainer Diana Major was eager to help.
The longtime penguin caretaker spent two weeks hand-rearing chicks and incubating eggs as part of an international effort to save one of the world’s most endangered seabird species.
“To play even the smallest role in such an important conservation effort was a truly humbling experience,” said Major, the Aquarium’s Manager of Penguins. “I have spent my career caring for penguins and educating guests about the challenges facing wild populations, so having the opportunity to contribute directly to their conservation using my experience and knowledge was incredibly meaningful.”
In April, Major spent two weeks in Cape Town volunteering with the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB). She was one of three New England Aquarium penguin trainers to travel to South Africa over the past 18 months to support the organization’s rehabilitation efforts. Major was also the first Aquarium employee to volunteer at its newly opened penguin nursery.
African penguins are classified as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, with the species having lost an estimated 97 percent of its population. Conservationists have warned that the species could become functionally extinct by 2035 if current population trends continue.
Caring for the penguins in South Africa. Diana Major/New England Aquarium
“These penguins are struggling to find enough food because of changes in the ocean and competition with commercial fisheries, while also facing habitat loss, pollution, and disease,” Major told Boston.com. “Together, these pressures make it much harder for penguins not only to survive but also to successfully raise chicks.”
During her volunteer assignment in April, Major joined a team caring for roughly 100 chicks at a time. The birds required feedings every few hours, and some also needed medication or nebulizer treatments. According to Aquarium officials, caregivers wore masks, bonnets, and full protective clothing while working in the nursery, and limited their interaction with the chicks so they wouldn’t become accustomed to humans before being released into the wild.
While the outlook for African penguins is dire, Major said there is still hope if conservation efforts continue.
“It is critical that we make changes now,” she said. “The good news is that there are conservation efforts focused on protecting nesting habitat, improving food availability, and reducing other human impacts, which hopefully will make a real difference. There’s still an opportunity to change the future for this species, but it requires continued action and collaboration.”
The New England Aquarium has cared for penguins at its Central Wharf campus for decades and joined the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Saving Animals From Extinction (SAFE) African Penguin program in 2023. Through the partnership, the Aquarium supports field conservation, rehabilitation efforts, and public education to protect wild African penguin populations.
The Aquarium said it plans to continue sending a penguin trainer to South Africa each year while also helping fund rehabilitation work through its Marine Conservation Action Fund. Staff members also share stories from their conservation work during daily presentations at the Aquarium’s penguin exhibit to encourage visitors to support protection efforts.
Morgan Rousseau is a freelance writer for Boston.com, where she reports on a variety of local and regional news.
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