Landau, October 3, 2025
C H I L E
+++ Scientists call for rejection of “Dominga” +++
Scientists from Chile and around the world conducting research in the Humboldt Archipelago have issued a statement urging the Chilean authorities to reject the “Dominga” mining and port project once and for all. The newspaper El Mostrador (1) reported on the statement on August 4, 2025 (see article “Scientists call for rejection ...” dated Septemb 2025 (see article “Scientists call for rejection ...” from September 18, 2025).
+++ Video podcast Sintonia Humboldt +++
The third season of the Sintonia Humboldt video podcast ran from the beginning of May to the end of July. The video podcast from Sphenisco Chile is currently paused.
+++ Coquimbo Rescue Station +++
On August 5, the renovation of the marine animal rescue station in Coquimbo was completed. On August 26, the first “patient” was admitted (see “Renovation of the Coquimbo Rescue Station Completed” dated September 9, 2025).
+++ Fishermen from La Higuera support marine protected area +++
At the beginning of August, fishing associations and unions from the municipality of La Higuera invited Daniel Manouchehri and Carolina Tello (representatives of the Coquimbo region), Mayor Uberlinda Aquea, and representatives of the tourism industry to the coastal village of Chungungo. The aim of the initiative was to once again highlight the importance of the “Humboldt Archipelago” marine protected area and to counter misinformation about the ongoing consultations on the management plan: "... this process (of approving the protected area) has taken 13 years of management and has gone through three different governments, so you can't say that this work has been done badly."
Representatives of the fishermen also reminded those present that the fishing community has supported the protection of this marine region for many years in order to secure their livelihoods and those of their children. The members of parliament welcomed the lively exchange of ideas, expressed their conviction of the local and global importance of this marine region, and promised to support the development of the management plan. (2)
+++ Scholarship +++
Since 2024, Sphenisco has been supporting Karen Lau's doctoral thesis at the Catholic University of Coquimbo with a scholarship. In her thesis, the doctoral student compares the energy consumption of Humboldt penguins in northern Chilean breeding colonies with that of southern Chilean breeding colonies and analyzes the feeding ecology and growth of chicks in Peru and Chile. The aim is to clarify how the marine environment of the Humboldt current system influences the survival of this penguin species.
At the beginning of September, her doctoral supervisor Dr. Guillermo Luna wrote: "... We are very pleased to inform you that Ms. Karen Lau is continuing to make great progress with her dissertation. At the same time, we would like to express our sincere thanks for all the support you have provided in connection with the scholarship. This assistance is of great value for the successful continuation of the work."
+++ Photo exhibition and textbook about the Humboldt Archipelago +++
Last year, Señora Hildaura Zulantay A. carried out an educational project on behalf of Sphenisco: the textbook “Appreciation of the Humboldt Archipelago.” Under her leadership, educators and marine biologists compiled 182 pages of didactic texts and illustrated them with numerous photos and illustrations. The project was sponsored by Krefeld Zoo (see article “Handover of the textbook...” dated August 11, 2025). In 2025, Valeria Paz Canto, Sphenisco Chile, conceived and curated the photo exhibition "Source of Life for Humanity." This project was sponsored by Rostock Zoo. The textbook and exhibition provide information about the ecosystem in very different ways and impressively illustrate its value. At the beginning of August, the photo exhibition opened in La Serena and a week later the first textbooks were handed over at the Pedro Pablo Muñoz School (La Higuera municipality). The events were attended by students, parents, teachers, and representatives of the authorities. Since then, Sphenisco Chile has been presenting the photo exhibition in many places and handing over textbooks at the same time:
Aug. 5 Opening of the photo exhibition in La Serena
Aug. 11 Photo exhibition in the community center of La Higuera
Aug. 13 Presentation of the textbook and photo exhibition at the school in Punta
Colorado, municipality of La Higuera
Aug. 20 Presentation and photo exhibition at the school in El Trapiche
Aug. 22 Photo exhibition at the tourism fair in La Higuera
Sept. 3 Presentation and exhibition at the school in Los Choros
Sept. 9 Presentation and photo exhibition at the school in Punta de Choros
Sept. 15 Presentation and photo exhibition at the San Andrés school in Chungungo
Sept. 20 Photo exhibition in El Llano de Los Choros as part of the National Day
celebrations on Sept. 18
+++ Dominga port and mining project still without operating permit +++
Local communities and civil society representatives had appealed to the Supreme Court against a ruling by the First Environmental Court of Antofagasta. The ruling had declared the Chilean government's rejection of the Andes Iron project in 2023 to be unlawful (see article “Environmental court oversteps its powers” dated December 18, December 2024). The Supreme Court has now decided not to allow the appeals, as decisions in the “Dominga” case are still pending in other courts. The court has thus once again avoided commenting on the powers of the Environmental Court.
Lawyers campaigning for the protection of the Humboldt Archipelago point out that the controversial project still has no environmental impact certification, meaning it has not been approved and Andes Iron cannot yet begin construction of the port or the mine. (3)
+++ Call for better protection +++
For some time now, the NGO “Oikonos Ecosystem Knowledge” has also been committed to protecting Humboldt penguins in Chile. The NGO takes a multidisciplinary approach and cooperates closely with local communities and public and private institutions on scientific and artistic projects. https://www.oikonos.org.
Oikonos and Sphenisco Chile are currently preparing a report for the regional Ministry of the Environment to highlight the sharp decline in the Humboldt penguin population and demand consequences in the management plan for the Humboldt Archipelago. Dr. Alejandro Simeone is advising the two NGOs on the drafting of the report.
+++ Yerba Buena Information Point +++
As reported, the Yerba Buena Group is building the “Humboldt Archipelago” information point on the road to Chungungo (see report “Yerba Buena Information Point” dated May 12, 2025). The Pipilén sculpture, information boards, and seating are now complete. The municipality of La Higuera is inviting citizens and political leaders to the inauguration on October 3, 2025. Yerba Buena is organizing a small fair on this day. Regional products will be offered at stands and information about activities will be provided. The “Info Point” concept was developed jointly by Yerba Buena and Sphenisco Chile.
The project is sponsored by the Frankfurt Zoo.
P E R U
+++ Research on population and breeding success +++
Since June 2024, Acorema has been conducting research on behalf of Sphenisco on the population and breeding success on the Ballestas Islands, southern Peru. Due to repeatedly difficult sea conditions, port closures, and other obstacles (see below), the study could not be completed as planned. The project has been extended once again until December 31, 2025. The study is funded by Frankfurt Zoo and Marlow Bird Park. The project has been extended once again until December 31, 2025. The study is funded by Frankfurt Zoo and Marlow Bird Park.
Among the difficulties mentioned was the crash of the research drone in August. Problems with the sensors led to the crash from a height of about 30 meters. At the last second, the drone was successfully steered away from the Humboldt penguins, so that no animals were injured. The device crashed onto the rocks. After thorough maintenance of the second drone, the investigations will continue.
E U R O P E
+++ Penguin flippers inspire donation +++
"Evolution has equipped penguins with flippers that enable them to glide through the water with minimal resistance and thus maximum efficiency. The shape of the flippers served as a model for the optimization process of the impeller in our radial fan," writes the company Mahle (4) in a press release. The company has already taken inspiration from nature's designs on several occasions in the past and presented this innovation for the first time at the Auto trade fair in Shanghai. On June 25, a team from Agorate – on behalf of Mahle – visited Landau Zoo to take photos of Humboldt penguins for their social media presence and to present the innovation at the IAA in Munich. A donation was offered during the photo shoot. Christina Schubert suggested donating to the endangered Humboldt penguins.
+++ NaturZoo Rheine +++
With the slogan “Every returnable bottle counts,” NaturZoo Rheine has launched a fundraising campaign. The initiators write: "NaturZoo supports ten international species conservation projects (including Sphenisco) in their natural habitats. In addition to conservation breeding at the zoo, a crucial pillar of species conservation and the One Plan Approach (5), the “PfandRaising” project collects donations for these projects and presents them in line with the motto “Do good and talk about it.” ... We appreciate your contribution to species conservation."
+++ Species Conservation Day at Karlsruhe Zoo +++
On September 14, Karlsruhe Zoo hosted its 9th Species Conservation Day. From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., numerous institutions and associations provided information at 38 stations and invited visitors to participate in activities. Sphenisco was also represented with an information stand, which was staffed by Nicole Bertram, German Contreras, Katja Resch, Christina Schubert, and Chantal Trauth.
+++ Art Exhibition “eARTh” +++
At the end of September, the exhibition “eARTh – 20 Years of Art and Nature Conservation Travels Across Four Continents” by artist Jacklyn Gratzfeld (6). The opening was well attended. Around 30 works from the last two decades will be on display until the end of October, including “Skylight oil paintings, Dance With Nature acrylic paintings, bird and animal portraits in chalk, and animal etchings.” The works provide insight into The works provide insight into the artist's art and nature conservation trips through Asia, the USA, Africa, and the Palatinate and impressively document her commitment to nature conservation (see article “Art exhibition ‘eARTh’” from September 12, 2025).
+++ Donations, donations, donations +++
In August and September 2025, the following individuals and institutions donated to Sphenisco's species conservation projects: Anja Seifen, Kathrin Ballenthin, Dublin Zoo, Frankfurt Zoo, Agorate GmbH, Darmstadt (on behalf of Mahle).
W.K.
Annotations
For better readability, the generic masculine form is used in this article. Unless otherwise indicated, the references to persons in this article refer to all genders.
(1) El Mostrador is a Chilean online newspaper.
(2) Online newspaper El Comunal La Higuera, August 10, 2025.
(3) Press release from Alianza Humboldt in September 2025.
(4) Mahle GmbH is an automotive supplier based in Stuttgart. Press release on the topic
https://newsroom.mahle.com/press/de/press-releases/bionik-optimiert-klimaanlage-108352
(5) The One Plan Approach (OPA) is a strategy developed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in which all stakeholders and all populations of an endangered species – both in their natural habitat (in situ) and in human care (ex situ, such as in zoos) – work together in a joint, integrated plan to conserve the species.
6) Artist Jacklyn Gratzfeld is a member of Sphenisco and has been involved in a variety of ways in nature and species conservation for many years.
translated by Angelika Veelken with partial use of deepl.com
