Galapagos sees record rise in penguins, flightless cormorants

A drop in tourism and weather patterns associated with La Nina are thought to have helped the bird species in the remote archipelago.

The population of Galapagos penguins and flightless cormorants, two species endemic to the remote islands, has seen a record increase, according to study results released on Friday.

The Galapagos penguin is one of the smallest species of penguins in the world, measuring up to 35 centimetres (14 inches) and the cormorants on the islands are the only type to have lost their ability to fly. They have developed diving skills instead.

“The number of cormorants has reached a record number, according to historical data dating back to 1977, while the number of penguins is at the highest since 2006,” said a statement from the Galapagos National Park, which carried out the census.

The population of Galapagos penguins, the only ones living on the earth’s equator, increased from 1,451 in 2019 to 1,940 in 2020, it added.

Flightless cormorant numbers increased from 1,914 to 2,220 over the same period.

File: Rodrigo Buendia/AFP

The Galapagos Islands lie 1,000 kilometres (625 miles) off the coast of Ecuador and are home to species found nowhere else in the world. The study was carried out by the park and the Charles Darwin Foundation in September. The main colonies present on the Isabela and Fernandina islands and the Marielas islets which are to the west of the archipelago have been classified as a natural heritage site.

Paulo Proano, Ecuador’s minister of environment and water, said the census results reflect the “good state of health of the population” of the Galapagos’ birds.

The park said the presence of the La Nina climatic phenomenon, which helps to provide more food for the birds, had contributed to the increase in their populations.

Another factor was the coronavirus pandemic, which has reduced disturbances to their nesting areas because of the drop in tourism, the park added.

The islands, which served as a natural laboratory for the English scientist Charles Darwin for his theory of the evolution of species, takes their name from the giant tortoises that live there.

Source: AFP

Police checkpoints to be set up on the Wales-England border during fire-break lockdown

Officers will stop motorists from England travelling into Wales

Police checkpoints will be set up on a key section of the Wales-England border, officers have confirmed.

Gloucestershire Constabulary will stop people travelling into Wales and encourage them to turn around if officers "are not satisfied with their explanation".

If people do not turn around, the police said it will tell forces in Wales so that they can issue a fine.

The announcement was just hours ahead of Wales entering its "fire-break" lockdown, Gloucestershire Live reports.

The major restrictions will see pubs, bars and restaurants, gyms, and all non-essential shops closed. And supermarkets have been told they can sell only essential items.

A spokesman for Gloucestershire Constabulary said: "While we cannot issue fines to those travelling from Wales into the county we can inform the host force of those we stop about what has happened so they can take action.

"Officers will be running an operation from tomorrow and over the weekend that will cover routes from Wales into the Forest of Dean and if we stop someone travelling from Wales we will be engaging with them to find out why, explaining the legislation and encouraging them to turn around if we are not satisfied with their explanation.

The spokesman added: "If they don’t then turn around we will then inform the force that polices the area they have travelled from so that they can issue a fine.

"It is important to stress that the vast majority of people are abiding by the rules but in line with our policing approach, we will take action where there are flagrant breaches."

(Image: WalesOnline/ Rob Browne)

Officers have not revealed where the checkpoints will be set up. However, there are a number of roads in the area which link Wales and England together - including the A40, A466, A416 and the B4521.

During the first lockdown, earlier this year, similar checks on motorists entering Wales were performed by officers from Gwent Police. One one occasion police stopped more than 300 people travelling in force area over bank holiday in May.

And during one hour-long operation, officers stopped more than 60 cars on the A466 alone.

Speaking at the time, Inspector Williams said: "We have had instances certainly down in the Chepstow area where people come across with bikes on their roofs clearly with an intent, and admitting an intent, to go mountain biking."

Source: Wales Online

MEP @LauraHuhtasaari gives powerful "I have a dream" speech in @Europarl_EN -

She wants all Member States to do a #Brexit! "You have now an opportunity to take your sovereignty back - use it."