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Penguins: Natural History and Conservation
Penguins, among the most delightful creatures in the world, are also among the most vulnerable. The fragile status of most penguin populations today mirrors the troubled condition of the southern oceans, as well as larger marine conservation problems: climate change, pollution, and fisheries mismanagement. This timely book presents the most current knowledge on each of the eighteen penguin species-from the majestic emperor penguins of the Antarctic to the tiny blue penguins of New Zealand and Australia, from the northern rockhopper penguins of the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans to the Galapagos penguins of the equator-written by the leading experts in the field.Included for each species:
o Life history
o Distribution, population sizes and trends
o International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) status
o Threats to survival
o Legal protection
The book also provides information on current conservation efforts, outlines the most important actions to be taken to increase each population's resilience, and recommends further research needed to protect penguins and the living creatures that share their environment.
Beautifully illustrated with full-color photographs of each species in their natural habitat and detailed charts and graphs, "Penguins" will be an invaluable tool for researchers, conservation groups, and policy makers. It will also enchant anyone interested in the lives or the plight of these fascinating animals.
Pablo Garcia Borboroglu is a researcher at the National Research Council of Argentina, president of the Global Penguin Society, and affiliate professor at the University of Washington. P. Dee Boersma is professor of biology and Wadsworth Endowed Chair in Conservation Science at the University of Washington. She is coeditor of "Invasive Species in the Pacific Northwest" and executive editor of "Conservation" magazine.
o Life history
o Distribution, population sizes and trends
o International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) status
o Threats to survival
o Legal protection
The book also provides information on current conservation efforts, outlines the most important actions to be taken to increase each population's resilience, and recommends further research needed to protect penguins and the living creatures that share their environment.
Beautifully illustrated with full-color photographs of each species in their natural habitat and detailed charts and graphs, "Penguins" will be an invaluable tool for researchers, conservation groups, and policy makers. It will also enchant anyone interested in the lives or the plight of these fascinating animals.
Pablo Garcia Borboroglu is a researcher at the National Research Council of Argentina, president of the Global Penguin Society, and affiliate professor at the University of Washington. P. Dee Boersma is professor of biology and Wadsworth Endowed Chair in Conservation Science at the University of Washington. She is coeditor of "Invasive Species in the Pacific Northwest" and executive editor of "Conservation" magazine.
- GenresScience
336 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2013
2 people are currently reading
305 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
January 20, 2025
Everything you will want to know and more about penguins.
Read
January 2, 2026bratz-maribel
January 5, 2026
Really good educational book on all the species of penguins. Goes beyond the usual facts you might already know if you selected this book in the first place. Loved the charts and scientific data.
September 24, 2013
Let me preface this review by saying that I am a longtime fan of co-author Dee Boersma’s work.
Years ago, I was part of a volunteer project at Punta Tombo, assisting Dee and her team with a penguin census. It was a week that changed the direction of my life in ways I couldn’t possibly imagine at the time. Dee has spent more than 20 years at Punta Tumbo researching Magellanic penguins — and helped to found the Penguin Sentinels organization.
So now that you know of my affinity for penguins and those who work to protect them, on with the review.
This is a reference book at its core.
It provides an in-depth description (and plenty of photos) of each of the 17 penguin species — from Gentoos to Rockhoppers to the Emperor penguins that were made famous in March of the Penguins. You’ll learn how to identify each, as well as its breeding habits, range, prey, and predators. (Did you know the Emperor penguin can dive up to 500 meters and hold its breath for 23 minutes?)
Yet even though this book is chock full of penguin details, such as counts and feeding habits and population trends, there is plenty drama between the lines.
For example, in the African Penguin section there are two photos of the Halifax Island colony in Namibia. In the photo taken in the 1930s, the colony is filled with penguins. In the 2004 photo, only a handful of penguins can be seen. The African Penguins are in big trouble, due to oil spills and overfishing.
I didn’t realize until reading this book the extent to which penguin eggs were once collected by locals. And penguin guano was also a target (which some species very much need for their nests).
Not all penguin species are declining. The Gentoos appear to be growing in number (though it appears that most species are indeed in various stages of decline).
Ultimately, this book is a call to action. For example, if the human demand for seafood ended tomorrow, the fishing trawlers would have a reason to be out in the oceans, scooping up the penguins’ food supply (as well as the penguins themselves).
Climate change is a more insidious challenge simply because it’s not so easily combatted or its impact fully understood. All we do know is that the waters are warming and food sources are moving or declining. And penguins must adapt to these changes or fade away.
Some species, sadly, are fading away.
If you’re passionate about penguins and the oceans, this is a must-have book. You’ll find yourself referring to it again and again, as I have.
Years ago, I was part of a volunteer project at Punta Tombo, assisting Dee and her team with a penguin census. It was a week that changed the direction of my life in ways I couldn’t possibly imagine at the time. Dee has spent more than 20 years at Punta Tumbo researching Magellanic penguins — and helped to found the Penguin Sentinels organization.
So now that you know of my affinity for penguins and those who work to protect them, on with the review.
This is a reference book at its core.
It provides an in-depth description (and plenty of photos) of each of the 17 penguin species — from Gentoos to Rockhoppers to the Emperor penguins that were made famous in March of the Penguins. You’ll learn how to identify each, as well as its breeding habits, range, prey, and predators. (Did you know the Emperor penguin can dive up to 500 meters and hold its breath for 23 minutes?)
Yet even though this book is chock full of penguin details, such as counts and feeding habits and population trends, there is plenty drama between the lines.
For example, in the African Penguin section there are two photos of the Halifax Island colony in Namibia. In the photo taken in the 1930s, the colony is filled with penguins. In the 2004 photo, only a handful of penguins can be seen. The African Penguins are in big trouble, due to oil spills and overfishing.
I didn’t realize until reading this book the extent to which penguin eggs were once collected by locals. And penguin guano was also a target (which some species very much need for their nests).
Not all penguin species are declining. The Gentoos appear to be growing in number (though it appears that most species are indeed in various stages of decline).
Ultimately, this book is a call to action. For example, if the human demand for seafood ended tomorrow, the fishing trawlers would have a reason to be out in the oceans, scooping up the penguins’ food supply (as well as the penguins themselves).
Climate change is a more insidious challenge simply because it’s not so easily combatted or its impact fully understood. All we do know is that the waters are warming and food sources are moving or declining. And penguins must adapt to these changes or fade away.
Some species, sadly, are fading away.
If you’re passionate about penguins and the oceans, this is a must-have book. You’ll find yourself referring to it again and again, as I have.
July 9, 2013
This book proved to be way to technical and scientific for me but I loved the pictures of the penguins.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews