Support penguin conservation this World Penguin Day!
Today (25th April) is World Penguin Day – do you know one of the most simple ways to support penguin conservation?
Worldwide penguin species are found in a variety of habitats and climates. Here at Twycross Zoo, we are home to Humboldt penguins which are found in the wild on the coast of Chile and Peru in South America.
The current wild population of the Humboldt species is uncertain but conservationists predict around 30,000, a number which is in decline. The species is also considered Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.
What are the threats to penguins in the wild?
There are many threats to penguin species across the world including the effects of pollution such as plastics, climate change, poaching and guano collection (penguin poo!). However overfishing is a major threat and can result in the extinction of some fish species which penguins rely on for food.
Here at the zoo, we make efforts to source sustainable fish only – from our penguins’ daily meals to the fish we serve to our visitors in The Catch Fish Bar!
What can you do?
You can help by making sustainable fish choices at fishmongers, supermarkets and restaurants – there are a wide range of sustainable fish alternatives!
You can find a full list of sustainable fish by visiting the Marine Conservation Society’s Online Good Fish Guide or by downloading their app! Or come along to our daily Penguin Parade & Talk at 12.30pm or 3.30pm, where you can receive a Marine Conservation Society (MCS) Good Fish Pocket Guide!
Look for certified labelling which ensures the product has been sustainably fished or farmed:
Marine Stewardship Council (MSC); wild fish or seafood comes from a fishery that has been independently certified to the MSC’s standard for a well-managed and sustainable fishery.
