Hundreds of penguins washed ashore along the beaches of Brazil were airlifted by Brazilian air force to their native territory in South Atlantic ocean.
Every year thousands of penguins migrate from the freezing waters near Patagonia to the warm waters around the Brazilian coast in search of food. But
this year, the large number of penguins that were found along the coast has surprised every one. Some of the penguins have traveled almost 3,000km (1,860 miles) to the North.
Brazil began penguin airlifts in 2000 and since then It has become an annual task for Brazilian air force to airlift the penguins washed ashore along the coast. But this time, the number of penguins to be rescued will be many times compared to previous years.
Giselda Candiotto who had coordinated with a similar rescue mission
earlier said
They are young, inexperienced animals that, in their search for food, get caught in the ocean currents,'' she said. The birds arrive near Rio extremely debilitated and having lost about two-thirds of their normal body weight. About half die of hyperthermia, hyperglycemia and exhaustion.
The flightless birds will be airlifted to the Southern tip of Brazil where they will be freed in the open ocean.
Scientists are trying to find a cause for their migration towards the North. A migration of such large scale indicates the shortage of supply of fish in their natural habitat.
Brazil's military airlifts hundreds of penguins back home
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