Northern rockhopper penguins near extinction (Happy Feet)

[IndianaGreen]

Source: MSNBC



Northern rockhopper penguins near extinction

Study estimates a million birds were lost on two key islands

Lovelace, the rockhopper penguin that answers life's questions in the animated film "Happy Feet", probably would be just as stumped as the researchers who reported Friday that the population of his northern relatives has declined by 90 percent over the last 50 years.

The population of northern rockhopper penguins once reached into the millions, but now the largest colonies are estimated at between 32,000 to 65,000 pairs on Gough Island, and 40,000 to 50,000 pairs on Tristan da Cunha Island, according to a study in the journal Bird Conservation International.


Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28696101/

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:-(

[mitchtv]

1. Haven't we had enough of your pet issues?

It's only a small percentage of the world's penguins

[geckosfeet]

2. This is an important scientific observation. The species is in decline.

Losing 90% of a species is not something to be indifferent about.

[Hannah Bell]

3. 90% of *this* species, sheesh.

[Lorien]

4. Haven't we had enough small minded selfishness??

Jesus, the loss of ANY species is a tragedy-and also an indicator of the planet's overall health. The oceans provide 65%-yes, that sixty-five percent- of the oxygen we breathe. Dead zones are spreading throughout the world's oceans and the vast majority of species that depend on them are in decline. I'm sure you won't care until it effects YOU personally, but it will and it's not going to be pretty.

Next time you see a thread that you don't like just hide it. Don't insult someone for caring about life on earth. Penguins-like every other species-are important and have intrinsic value beyond their niche in our global ecosystem.

[biopowertoday]

10. Thanks. It is shameful the some here have to diss the OP on this issue.

[Bette Noir]

5. When 90% of *anything* dies out, there's a serious problem.

When you stop and think that 90% of the great whales in the Northern Pacific have also died out, and 90% of the sea otters in Alaska, and 90% of the Steller's sea lions in the Northwest, and 90% of the monk seals in Hawaii, and probably 100% of the monk seals in the Mediterranean, ya gotta admit all the world's oceans are having a rough time. The salmon seasons in both California and Oregon were cancelled last year, because of the collapse of the salmon population, throwing fishing families instantly into poverty even before the rest of the economy collapsed.

How exactly do you expect the land to live and thrive, if the seas die?

[mitchtv]

6. I guess I REALLY did need that ' sarcasm' tag

Sorry.

[IndianaGreen]

7. I know you seldom use it

and that you were saying what others have said about me regarding other controversial issues, which is why I took no offense.

I am watching the Obama Express. :-)

[rpannier]

8. Yourf subject line screamed sarcasm

But the response underneath left me doubtin a little

Sometimes it is best to err on the side of caution

[Usrename]

11. You got me too. Your delivery was so deadpan.

Well done.

[Alamuti Lotus]

9. Well maybe if they stopped dancing and got a JOB

they'd be better off. Lazy birds probably now asking for welfare. Or worse, those homosexual penguins that aren't breeding are killing their species!

The sarcasm should be obvious and requires no cutesy icon.

What seems to be at issue in many of these situations was actually dealt with decently in Happy Feet (eventually).. primary food supply threatened, LIFE is threatened.