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From our scientist, Hiltrun Ratz, PhD
scientist@penguins.org.nz |
It's a very sad news story, this one, and we are very sorry. Yesterday we reported that Stitches lost a chick probably to fighting by adults - it looks like both chicks in this sponsored box died also from adults fighting. This is the last photo I have when they were still ok. The parents have done their grieving and will now sit out the season. This was specially devastating because the chicks had made it through the Diphtheria period and survived.
For some of you who have been following us for a while, this one is an old favourite and a very, very special penguin lady. So she is back and she has one chick to raise this season. It started well and both her eggs hatched. Unfortunately it seemed a pair at a loose end came to visit and we suspect the fighting cost the chick its life. It happens and we do our best to prevent it, but some things we just can't predict. She has got one, like all the others it has been treated for Diphtheria and is doing well.
This 3-year old is breeding in her second year now - and with her second mate! She is raising one chick - the other unfortunately didn't make it.
This female was sponsored as a chick 4 years ago, she learnt to fish and returned to breed at Moeraki. She is on mate no. 3 already: Wotan the Magnificent was her first mate - he died of Malaria. Mate no. 2 from last year was abandoned (he is breeding with Vivek this year raising 2 chicks); and her current mate is a sweet young thing (4 years old) who has never bred before. So when one of their eggs did not hatch we thought it was fortuitous as a single chick is easier for this pair. It has survived Diphtheria and is thriving! Fingers crossed all round is keeps going well.
I have been a little hesitant to post updates because every now and then another chick dies even though they have been treated for Diphtheria and survived. We do not know why. Predation is one possibility. So chick sponsorships - although promised for early December - have been slightly delayed. We have not had another death for a couple of days and hope for the best. I think we have 48 chicks left - but this could change again. The good news is that the chicks are growing every day.
Here is our boy Jackson on the nest with his two chicks - he and his (male) mate have received a couple of eggs from a pair that abandoned theirs and the chicks are growing every day. Apologies to all your wonderful sponsors - update is forthcoming - promise! |
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