MORTALITY IN LITTLE PENGUINS (Eudyptula minor) ALONG THE COAST OF VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA

1 April 1980

journal article
research article
Published by Wildlife Disease Association in Journal of Wildlife Diseases

Vol. 16 (2) , 251-260
https://doi.org/10.7589/0090-3558-16.2.251

Abstract

Little penguins (48) consisting of 21 (43.7%) mature, 18 (37.5%) juvenile and 9 (18.7%) of undetermined age from 10 Victorian coastal localities were examined during 1977-78. Of all penguins, 37% were in poor body condition with moderate to heavy burdens of internal and external parasites. Acute parasitic gastric ulceration with accompanying hemorrhage was implicated in the death of 4 birds. Chronic gastric ulcers possibly caused appetite depression and starvation in 28 birds. Other significant lesions encountered included renal coccidiosis, parasitic cholangiohepatitis and pulmonary aspergillosis. The increased mortality experienced during 1977-78 was possibly due to starvation or to exacerbation of the effects of existing parasite burdens on starving and exhausted birds.

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