Only during the last week 739 dead penguins were found on the beaches in three municipalities of the state of Sao Paulo: Cananeia, Iguape and Ilha Comprida.
Biologists cited by Globo television are not able to clearly explain the mysterious penguin fever, mainly young individuals. The first of them were found on August 15.
According to biologist Alex Ribeiro, among the possible causes of the mysterious phenomenon is the lack of food or indirect human action, e.g. entangling animals in a fishing network or water contamination.
According to the findings of the IPEC research institute, all dead animals are individuals of the Magella penguin. Their death, as the initial examination of the bodies thrown ashore proves, occurred at sea.
Brazilian biologists who expect that the number of dead penguins on the Sao Paulo beaches will increase in the coming days, confirmed that the first animal autopsy has already begun to determine the cause of their death.
