BRAZIL: Country cares for group of penguins before returning them to Antarctic

This zoo in Rio de Janeiro is home to an unusual group of tourists - penguins who swapped the freezing winter of the Antarctica for the beaches of Brazil. This winter an exceptional amount of penguins have been stranded on the beaches of Rio de Janeiro - sparking a major rescue operation. Next month Brazil's air force and navy which will swing into action to airlift the penguins back to their chilly home. According to veterinarian Andre Sena this species of flightless birds from the Patagonian region in the southern tip of the continent is known as the Magellan penguin in reference to the Straits of Magellan. Penguins arrive from the Patagonian region on ice floes that melt in the vicinity of Brazil's shore and the birds wash up on Rio beaches every winter. However, this season has brought more penguins than the usual 30 or 40 every year, with numbers this year adding up to more than 140. "Last year we received around 27 animals (penguins), this year we have received over 140. And the only difference between last year and this, is that this year they presented "bagre" (species of saltwater fish) thorns in their mouths, resulting in secondary wounds. The animals (penguins) became weaker and more were rescued by the lifeguards," explained veterinarian Andre Sena. Sena, who is responsible for the animals said the recovery procedure is complicated, especially because the penguins usually arrive in Brazil in a weakened condition. "We use lamps to heat up (the penguins), they receive warm fish food through a sounding line, the majority have to take antibiotics and antioxidants because they arrive with secondary infections, and each penguin eats 1.5 kilos of fish per day," he said. The veterinarian also explained that this period of recuperation was extremely important for the penguins who need heat in order to regain lost muscle and fat. "As odd as it may seem, we have to warm and not cool the penguins. They have to spend some time here in the warmth and Rio's climate is great for that, because it's hot. After they begin to recover the fat and the muscles they lost, then they can return to the south," said Maia. In September, a Brazil Airforce plane and eventually a naval ship will transport the animals back to the Patagonian region where they will be reintegrated to their natural environment.

ITN Source | August 11, 2006

Tags:. .fat. .southern. .plane. .environment. .mouths