Landau April 19, 2023

We would like to thank you sincerely for the many expressions of condolence, sympathy and friendship that we received after the death of Gabriele Knauf. Also the amount of donations to Sphenisco, which had been asked for in lieu of flowers at the funeral, was overwhelming. A big thank you to all donors! We are touched and grateful to have received so much support, which will help to continue the work for the protection of the Humboldt Penguin in the spirit and memory of Gabriele Knauf with all our strength.

Werner Knauf, Dr. Christina Schubert Klaus Blumer

Landau, 13^th April 2023

CHILE

+++Continuation and expansion of the "Research for Survival" project+++

Currently, the head of the research project, Dr Alejandro Simeone, is working on the final report on the population, breeding success and foraging of Humboldt penguins in the Humboldt Archipelago. The results from the years 2021 and 2022 are significant, provide in part completely new insights into Humboldt penguins and are also politically relevant (see reports on this page). In consultation with the researchers, Sphenisco not only plans to continue the work for another 2 years until 2024, but even to extend it. In this way, the temporal and spatial overlap of the foraging activities of Humboldt penguins with fishing activities. be analysed. This analysis of existing and future data may be used as a basis for fisheries management in the Humboldt Archipelago. The aim of such
management would be for fishermen and penguins to "stay out of each other's way" or for possible contacts are minimised.

Landau March 27, 2023. 

Sphenisco is in shock and mourns the loss of its Chairwoman, Gabriele Knauf. On March 21, she died suddenly and unexpectedly in Landau. Without Gabriele, Sphenisco would not exist.  In 2008, together with her husband, she initiated the Association for the Protection of the Humboldt Penguin and its Habitat. Since then, she has been  chairwoman of the association without interruption. With commitment, creativity, perseverance, political savvy and dignity, she shaped the work and contributed significantly to leading the association to where it is today.

-  Summary Fieldwork Report from Dr. Ursula Ellenberg und Maximiliano Daigre V.

Otago, New Zealand, Santiago, Chile February 9, 2023.

From 25 November to 17 December 2022, our small team stayed on Isla Choros, Reserva Nacional Pingüino de Humboldt, Chile, to study at-sea distribution and diving behaviour as well as obtain preliminary data on prey choice of breeding Humboldt penguins Spheniscus humboldtii. 

Landau, 4th February 2023

                                                                      C H I L E

+++Research for Survival - Round 2+++

In December, Ursula Ellenberg (New Zealand) and Maximiliano Deigre (Chile) studied the foraging behaviour of Humboldt penguins with GPS loggers and animal cameras on Choros Island in northern Chile. Just in time for the New Year, the researchers delighted all penguin lovers with the first underwater images of Humboldt penguins (see article "Premiere").

Chile, 18.01.2023

The Committee of Ministers (1) - Government President Gabriel Boric - unanimously rejected the controversial Dominga mining and port project on Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2023.

Santiago, Landau 3^rd January 2023. Environment, Health, Undersecretariat of Fisheries, CONAF, Directorate General of Water and the Agriculture and Livestock Service have now outlined their concerns about the mining and port project.The comments are necessary for the Committee of Ministers to vote on whether to approve or reject Andes Iron's plans.

Landau 1 January 2023.

From the end of November to the end of December, Ursula Ellenberg (New Zealand) and Maximiliano Deigre (Chile) investigated the foraging of Humboldt penguins on the island of Choros, northern Chile, using GPS loggers and animal cameras. They collected numerous data on the penguins' foraging paths, which differ significantly from the data from the (southern) winter.

Landau, 6 December 2022

C H I L E

+++Course for divers+++
Between 17 and 21 October, a training course on accident prevention and treatment for diving assistants, mussel divers and boat personnel of the Humboldt Archipelago took place in the bays of Chañaral de Aceituno, Punta de Choros and Chungungo. The course was funded by the Frankfurt Zoo (see projects Chile, "Accident Prevention and Treatment")