Are There Penguins in Chile?
Chile is a long, narrow country present at the edge of the west of South America. It has a Pacific Ocean coastline of about 6,000km. It is home for plenty of different animals like Puda, Taruca, Sea Lions, and birds like an Andean condor, Austral Thrush, etc.
Yes, Chile is also home to some species of penguins, they are Macaroni, Southern Rockhopper, Magellanic, and Humboldt. Even other species also present but in little number and spread over South America.
Why do penguins live in Chile?
The weather and climate of the country, Chile is different. It tends to inhabit the many species of penguins to lead their comfort life. It has become a cozy (warm) place to populate their generation. Between October and March, we can see the penguins nesting and waddling (an animal walking with a fat body and short steps) around the colonies. It is the best time to visit the country of Chile to meet the penguin’s family.
Where and which penguins can we find in Chile?
Magellanic Penguins:
- Magdalena Island near Punta Arenas is the island of Chile where we can find the most significant enguins colonies. About 60,000 breeding pairs of Magellanic penguins are found on this island since it is more famous island tourists visit the most times.
2. Seno Otway is a large island that lies between the Brunswick Peninsula and Riesco Island in southern Chile. It is about 65 kilometers away from Punta Arenas, and it the colony where 60,000 to 70,000 Magellanic penguins survive with their family.
Southern Rockhopper Penguins:
1. Diego Ramirez Island is a small group of islands that lies in the southernmost extreme of Chile. There are 132,721 pairs of penguins founded here.
2. Noir Island is an island located in the southern part of Chile. It is 351 km away from Diego Ramirez Island. Rockhopper penguins colonies are present here.
3. Ildefonso Island is a group of islands; it is also present in the southern extreme of Chile. It is 88.5 km away from Diego Ramirez Island and 272 km away from Noir Island. It is a record that there are 86,400 pairs of rockhopper penguins.
Macaroni Penguins:
Macaroni penguins live in southern Chile, due to their characteristics of migration they also found in Antarctica areas. These penguins have other breeding sites in South Georgia, South Sandwich, South Orkneys, South Shetlands, Bouvet, Prince Edward, Marion, Crozet, Kerguelen, Heard, the Falkland Islands, and the Antarctic Peninsula.
Humboldt Penguins:
1. Northern Pacific coast and Peru, and the Island of Chile, where we can find both Humboldt and Magellanic penguins at a time.
2. Island of Isla Damas is present near La Serena. Here, we can find a National Reserve for them. This reserve is the breeding spot for these penguins. The biggest colony of these kinds of penguins are surviving in Chile. We can find about 8,000 pairs of these types of penguins in Chile.
3. Algarrobo is a Chilean city found in the country’s central coast and located near Valparaiso. Their nest is in the form of caves in the breeding sites.
King Penguins:
1. Inutil Bay is also known as a useless bay located at the Chilean part of Tierra del Fuego Island. A small group of king penguins, in 2010 get to see in an area. The owner of this land planned to protect and preserve them, so that area changes to King penguin park called Parque Pinguino Rey.
2. Martillo Island is an island that is extremely windy, cold, and isolated located at the southernmost tip of Chile, and it is the closest point to Antarctica.
Chinstrap Penguins:
These penguins inhabit in Chile in which they spread between the extreme southern continent and Antarctic territory, and also they survive in different parts of the southern hemisphere.
Gentoo Penguins:
1. We can see these penguins during its migration period. They live in the subantarctic islands of the southernmost part of the country, Chile.
2. Martillo Island is an island that is extremely windy, cold, and isolated located at the southernmost tip of Chile, and it is the closest point to Antarctica.
Emperor Penguins:
Usually, emperor penguins present on the island of Antarctica as well as at the territories of Chile which has authority.
Little Penguins:
Little penguins don’t live in Chile country, but they are a frequent visitor for the central coast of the country, Chile.
Conclusion
As discussed above, we can finalize that Chile is home for some species of penguin in which they expanded throughout the country and its territories. This country provided places for penguins that they can make colonies, and parks to protect them from extinction.
Reference:
http://www.seabirds.org/chile-penguins.htm
https://www.thisischile.cl/which-penguins-can-we-find-in-chile/?lang=en
The Best Places to See Penguins in Chile
