MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Scientists find no need to pick up a penguin
British scientists sent to the Antarctic to investigate whether king penguins fall on their backs when aircraft fly overhead say the birds do no such thing.
British scientists sent to the Antarctic to investigate whether king penguins fall on their backs when aircraft fly overhead say the birds do no such thing.The claim that penguins toppled backwards while gawping at aircraft received worldwide exposure last year, following reports from veterans of the Falklands war.
The conclusion follows a five-week British Antarctic Survey study of penguins on the remote island of South Georgia as Lynx helicopters from HMS Endurance passed overhead.
Richard Stone, of the British Antarctic Survey, said: "Not one king penguin fell over when the helicopters came over.
"As the aircraft approached, the birds went quiet and stopped calling to each other, and adolescent birds that were not associated with nests began walking away from the noise. Pure animal instinct, really."
Dr Stone has concluded that flights over 1,000 feet caused "only minor and transitory ecological effects" on king penguins.
Environmentalists and scientists have been concerned that increasing aircraft activity in the Antarctic and sub-Antarctic could be disturbing wildlife, including driving penguins off their eggs.
Aircraft, including helicopters, are used routinely in Antarctica to transport personnel and light cargo as well as carry out surveys.
During the eight days the team filmed at Antarctic Bay, the Lynxes made 17 overflights between 5,800 feet and 750 feet, from various directions and at different speeds.
Birds were filmed before, during and after the flights.
The team now plans a second set of experiments using fixed wing aircraft.
Source: Ananova website
Top Comments
Disclaimer & comment rulesCommenting for this story is now closed.
If you have a Facebook account, become a fan and comment on our Facebook Page!