Blue penguins starving due to La Nina

STARVED: Blue penguins were unable to find food

Washed up blue penguins died from starvation and exposure, post-mortem finds

May 2011: Blue penguins that washed up on the East Coast beaches of New Zealand last month died from starvation and exposure according to post-mortem results.

Eighteen of the little blue penguins, including males, females and young from two different sites were tested.

Experts at Massey University concluded that 12 died of starvation/emaciation, for a further five exposure and hypothermia also contributed to their death, while just one died from hypothermia coupled with an infection. No food was found in the stomachs of any of the 18 penguins.

‘The penguin deaths are linked to the La Nina weather patterns which have reduced the amount of baitfish available. The empty stomachs and low fat reserves are the result of this poor food availability,' said Department of Conservation ranger Jamie Quirk.