Magellanic penguin
(Spheniscus magellanicus)
Coordinator: Thomas Lipp
Institution: Zoologischer Garten Augsburg
IUCN Red List Status
Programme roles
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• Education This role focuses on providing more general messages about penguins’ conservation. Indeed, penguins are important flagship species for a healthy ocean ecosystem. Keeping the species in EAZA can increase public awareness about the penguins’ conservation status (10 out of 18 species are declining) and the need to conserve penguins in the wild by protecting their natural habitat. Education can be done proactively, focusing on individual behaviour change: how to behave as a tourist in penguin habitats, as a consumer (e.g. buy less plastic), etc. This species can be mixed geographically with other species (Gentoo penguin, King penguin but not species of the same genus, Spheniscus). • Fundraising This role would be to fundraise for other more threatened penguin species so conservation initiatives such as artificial nests, beach clean-ups, etc., can be financially supported. The TAG has several conservation projects identified. • Research This research role aims to perform studies on the migration of Magellanic penguins using track devices. These tracking devices can be tested on penguins in human care. |
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• Exhibit the Magellanic penguin is an attractive species that visitors like to see and can be mixed with other penguin species. |
Programme numbers
In January 2023, the Magellanic penguin EEP had 110 animals in 8 institutions.
Programme highlights
- The IUCN Penguin Species Specialist Group has a fact sheet available about the Magellanic penguin. Selwo Marina also has an fact sheet available.
- In Zooquaria 113 (Autumn 2021) there is an article about the penguin RCP.