After months of recovery at the Rescue Center of the Mundo Marino Foundation, fifteen specimens —thirteen Magellanic penguins and two rockhopper penguins— were returned to their natural habitat in San Clemente del Tuyú.
The animals had been found between June 2025 and March 2026 at various points along the Buenos Aires coastline with critical health conditions.
Causes of Rescue and Health Status
Most of the specimens were admitted with malnutrition and dehydration, main components of the “stranded penguin syndrome”.
This phenomenon mainly affects juvenile individuals during their first trophic migration, who, failing to find enough food, lose vital energy reserves.
In addition to malnutrition, specialists reported complex cases:
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Injuries from human activity: Wounds compatible with fishing nets and dog attacks.
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Oil contamination: One specimen arrived oiled. Oil damages the microstructure of the feathers, preventing the necessary waterproofing to maintain body heat, leading to hypothermia. Its recovery required a specialized cleaning and a grooming process to restore its natural thermal barrier.
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Incomplete molt: Due to lack of energy, some specimens could not complete their feather molt, severely compromising their thermal insulation.
Recovery and Reintegration Process
The treatment at the center included fluid therapy, a progressive diet based on fish with vitamin supplements, and constant monitoring through blood tests. To ensure long-term follow-up, each penguin was fitted with a subcutaneous microchip.
The group reintegration was strategic: April marks the beginning of the migratory season. Magellanic penguins, being a gregarious species, depend on the colony for orientation and protection from predators.
By being released at this time, they have a better chance of integrating into the groups migrating north following the anchovy shoals.
Species Context
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Magellanic Penguin (Spheniscus magellanicus): Listed as of “least concern” by the IUCN. Its annual cycle involves a migratory journey of up to 5,000 kilometers from Patagonia to Brazil.
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Rockhopper Penguin (Eudyptes chrysocome): A species categorized as “Vulnerable” globally and “Endangered” in Argentina. Its presence on the Buenos Aires coasts is exceptional, and its population faces critical threats from climate change, overfishing, and marine pollution.
This conservation effort was made possible thanks to the coordination of the Marine Fauna Rescue Network, which integrates foundations, park rangers, security forces, and neighbors committed to the protection of the biodiversity of the coast.
