The Last Penguins of Northern Peru

The Humboldt Penguin (Spheniscus humboldtii), is a native species of Peru and Chile, in danger of extinction and in decline now on the Peruvian coast.

Its presence is limited mainly to some protected zones of the Peruvian southern coast. Fishing and the extraction of guano have resulted in the alteration and disappearance of several nesting places. The progressive disappearance of the Humboldt Penguin represents a true loss for the world and the Peruvian natural heritage.   The Illescas hill and its beaches are the last site, in the north of the country where you will find this Endangered species, and one of the last few sites in Peru where they are possible to be appreciated in the wild.

Conservation and sustainable development of Illescas Hill & beaches.

Illescas hill and its beaches, on the west coast of Peru, lies in the heart of the Sechura desert, a vast ecosystem of 70,000 hectares, 45,000 are the property of the Navy of Peru, with the rest belonging to the Community Farmer of Sechura.   The area is made up of a succession of bays with beaches of sand and rocky ends with high precipices (40 meters high). 

Human Factor and threats

The cold Humboldt current from the Antarctic means the waters are very cold and very deep and full of fish. Local fishermen fish the seas daily their use of traditional fishing methods (like reed boats pictured) and local villagers who come to enjoy and observe the beauty of the site, maybe surf a little,  do not pose a massive threat to the hill and beach. 

 Pictured right - Traditional fishing methods.

  
Some activities, already practiced next to the Illescas hill represent a true danger for the natural balance and contribute little by little in the deterioration of the site, every day illegal commercial fishing, prohibited in Peruvian Law, takes place less than 5 miles off the coast. (pictured above) 

  

Just 135 kilometers to the south, in Lambayeque and Punta Negra, you will find an average of one hundred vehicles (light trucks, trucks, motors, etc…) belonging to fishermen on the beach. (pictured) Their fishing technique is causing the disappearance of fish and marine mammals.  Until now, the difficult access to beaches of the Illescas hill has limited the tragic consequences to the area but little by little 4x4trucks manage to enter the site and are putting the ecosystem in danger.

 

Faced with these potential threats we have to react urgently to prevent the disappearance of an ecosystem and its unique flora and fauna on the coasts of Peru, part of the national and international natural heritage.

 

Proposals for the conservation of the site

 

We are proposing to protect the territories of the Illescas hill and the beaches that are in critical danger.    At the beginning of 2009  “Illescas” group was formed made up of local people living, or using the area, and who want to respond to the emergency need to protect the site whose fauna and flora are every day, more exposed to the extinction danger.  The aim is to develop a project for the conservation and sustainable use of the area of coast.

 

Initial plans involve cleaning and marking the area, and the building of a guard post including living quarters which would mean constant supervision and give the ability to control access. Inventories of flora, land and marine fauna need to be taken as well as looking at how the area is used for ecotourism, sport fishing and sea sports.

 

Long term the site is an ideal area to set up a penguin reintroduction programme – returning captive penguins back to the wild.  Pools would need to be established on the beach where penguins learn to swim and catch fish before their release We want to try and introduce 100 to 200 birds over the next five years.

 

 

On a recent journey to visit the area Park Owner and WPF Chairman David Gill was amazed through the whole of the trip these were the only wild penguins found -  10 individuals. spurred into immediate action the team applied to the government to seal off the coastline for the protection of the remaining penguins and are currently setting up a research station on the secluded stretch of coastline where the Humboldts are found.

 

Sadly, these penguins may be the last penguins of Northern Peru and time is running out!