Research Project Rockhopper Penguins

According to the IUCN Red List, Northern rockhopper penguins are classified as endangered. In their native habitat in the South Atlantic, they face severe threats from overfishing, pollution, and climate change. This makes the care and research of this species in scientifically managed zoos all the more important. Since 2015, Schönbrunn Zoo has coordinated the European Conservation Breeding Program for Northern rockhopper penguins, keeps the international studbook, and cares for the world’s largest colony in zoos.

Objective

The study conducted at Schönbrunn Zoo in collaboration with the University of Vienna aims to provide, for the first time, detailed insight into the breeding behavior of Northern rockhopper penguins under human care. The focus is on how the female and male of a pair contribute to nest building, incubating the eggs, and raising the chicks.

Relevance

Successful breeding at the zoo not only contributes to the establishment of a backup population but also creates unique conditions for research. In the wild it would be virtually impossible to collect individual data on specific pairs due to the species’ remote range and large colonies. The zoo’s success in breeding this species has made it possible to closely study its breeding behavior over an entire season. Scientifically managed zoos make an important contribution to the study of endangered species. Studies like this one help us better understand their biology and gain insights that can be used to protect their wild conspecifics.

Method

Lisa Macdonald, MSc, and Rasmus Praefke, MSc, under the supervision of Dr. Angela Stöger-Horwath, Professor of “Zoo Conservation Science” at the University of Vienna, and studbook coordinator Sabine Früwirth from Schönbrunn Zoo, observed and filmed 13 rock penguin pairs at Schönbrunn Zoo during the 2024 breeding season over a period of three months. The footage was then evaluated by the research team, and the data was statistically analyzed.

Results

Within the penguin pairs, clear differences emerged between the sexes. The females took on a larger share of incubating the eggs, while the males invested more time in nest-building. The males were by no means gentle in this regard: they initiated physical altercations more frequently and stole nesting material more often than their female conspecifics. After hatching, however, they also showed a gentler side - both sexes participated in warming the chicks, and no clear difference was observed in this regard. In addition, pairs in which at least one chick hatched spent more time in each other’s company than pairs that were unsuccessful in hatching. The results show that females and males take on different, complementary roles during the breeding season. However, it cannot be determined whether the pairs actually coordinate these tasks with one another.

About the study: https://www.mdpi.com/2673-5636/7/3/37