Why Thousands of Penguins Are Dying in Argentina’s Monte Leon National Park?
A troubling ecological crisis is unfolding along Argentina’s southern coastline, where thousands of penguins have died over the years in what scientists now say is a complex convergence of returning predators, shifting habitats, and accelerating climate change.
New Delhi, February 5: A troubling ecological crisis is unfolding along Argentina’s southern coastline, where thousands of penguins have died over the years in what scientists now say is a complex convergence of returning predators, shifting habitats, and accelerating climate change.
The deaths have been recorded at Monte León National Park, a protected coastal reserve in Argentina that hosts one of the region’s most important penguin colonies. According to a four-year study cited by ScienceTech Daily, more than 7,000 adult penguins were killed between 2007 and 2010 alone, nearly 7.6% of the entire colony.
Surplus Killing Raises Red Flags
Researchers were initially baffled by the condition of many carcasses. Several penguins were found either untouched or only partially eaten. Scientists believe this points to “surplus killing,” a behaviour seen when predators encounter an unusually easy supply of prey and kill more animals than they immediately consume. Create Viral Penguin Walking Towards a Mountain Meme With AI Tools.
In this case, the primary predator is the puma, a species that has gradually returned to parts of southern Argentina following a decline in livestock farming after the 1990s. With fewer ranchers and less human activity, pumas have reclaimed territories they once abandoned. Why Are There No Penguins in Greenland?
Penguins’ Shift to Mainland Increased Risk
At the same time, penguins altered their own behaviour. Traditionally nesting on offshore islands safe from land predators, many colonies began settling on the mainland. While this offered new breeding space, it also exposed them to predators they are evolutionarily ill-equipped to face.
“Penguins have virtually no defence against land-based hunters,” researchers noted, adding that the combination of mainland nesting and puma recovery created a deadly overlap.
Climate Change a Bigger Long-Term Threat
While puma attacks account for many adult deaths, scientists stress that climate change poses an even greater long-term danger. Rising sea temperatures, shifting nutrient cycles, and reduced food availability are lowering chick survival rates and weakening breeding success.
Experts warn that if young penguins continue to struggle and birth rates remain low, the population may not recover, even if predation levels stabilise.
A Warning for Coastal Ecosystems
Researchers emphasise that puma predation alone is unlikely to wipe out the colony. However, when combined with extreme weather events, food shortages, and declining reproduction, the risk becomes far more serious.
The situation is now being closely monitored, with scientists tracking both penguin and puma populations inside the park. They say the pumas’ return is a natural ecological process, but one that highlights how sensitive species can be when environmental balance shifts.
Conservationists also see this as a warning sign for other coastal ecosystems worldwide, where changing climates and predator movements are placing growing pressure on seabirds and even sea turtles.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 05, 2026 08:50 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).