Blue penguins which washed up on East Coast beaches last
month died of starvation and exposure linked to the La Nina
pattern, the Department of Conservation (DOC) says.
Massey University tested 18 little blue penguins from two
different sites, DOC spokesman Jamie Quirk said.
The necropsy results concluded the deaths were consistent
with a prolonged period of starvation and exposure. Of the
penguins tested, 12 died of starvation/emancipation, five
died of starvation/emancipation/exposure and one died from
exposure/hypothermia and an infection.
No food was found in the stomachs of any of the 18 penguins.
There had been claims from some people along the East Coast
that Brazilian oil company Petrobras' surveying and testing
might have been the reason for the deaths. The Maori Party
approached the Government for an investigation into the
alleged claims.
"The penguin deaths are linked to the La Nina weather
patterns which have reduced the amount of baitfish
available," Mr Quirk said.
The health of penguins was measured as a body score with a
maximum of nine.
The body score for 12 of the penguins was two and the
remaining six scored three.
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