Punta Tombo Nature Reserve
The Punta Tombo Nature Reserve in Argentina is located on a small peninsula. Here you can see the largest colony of Magellanic penguins. It occupies a strip of the Atlantic Ocean coast 3 km long and 0.6 km wide. The territory of the reserve is protected and belongs to the Argentine Marine National Park.
The word penguin comes from the Latin word for "fat." Magellanic penguins weigh an average of 6 kg, and their height is no higher than 70 cm. Penguins have long been attracted to the peninsula by its terrain. The shore runs smoothly into the ocean, which allows the chicks to learn to swim safely. The area is surrounded by rocks, and there are boulders and small stony sand on the shore. It is very convenient for penguins to build nests.
In addition to penguins, the reserve is home to other striking representatives of the fauna of South America: guanaco llamas, nandu ostriches, Patagonian hares, foxes, cormorants, seagulls, petrels, steamboat duck, Antarctic pigeon and others. Whales, dolphins, killer whales and sea lions can be seen in the sea off the coast.
Penguin life on the peninsula
The Punta Tombo Nature Reserve attracts many tourists with the opportunity to observe penguins in natural conditions. Penguins come to nest every year from September to April. Their number in this period exceeds one million. This is more than half of the entire population. In September, the males appear first. They prepare a place for nests, which they arrange in small burrows-caves. A little later, the females arrive. The most interesting time to observe begins. Penguins have mating games. Males tend to the females carefully, and then the mating season begins. Male Magellanic penguins are monogamous – they are able to be faithful to their chosen ones all their lives. Newly formed and already established couples disperse to their caves closer to October. Moreover, they often occupy their last year's mink nests. The female lays only 1-2 eggs, which her "father" helps her to hatch. After 40 days, the chicks appear. The parents get food for them together – fish and squid – and protect the nest. It's funny to watch the penguins gravely and importantly stroll along the shore, getting along well with other inhabitants of the reserve. As soon as the grown–up chicks are able to swim on their own, the friendly family departs for the north - to the shores of southern Brazil.
Visit to the Punta Tombo Nature Reserve
For tourists, visiting Punta Tombo Park is possible only during the nesting season, access is prohibited at other times. Strict rules have been developed for visitors. You can not contact animals, you can only move along special paths. Penguins themselves are naturally curious. The rules of conduct do not apply to them. They are not afraid of people at all, they go out on the paths. Tourists manage to take a lot of funny and spectacular photos. Visiting tourists are advised to wear comfortable clothes and shoes, because they have a lot to walk along the rocky shore and climb the rocks. Children have a special impression of watching penguins. Cute animals make adults feel touched too.
The sad fact is that in 99 the number of penguins was only 400 thousand. Oil pollution, the death of anchovies, which make up the penguins' main diet, and the uncontrolled fishing of seafood and fish almost led to the extinction of the population. Two natural resources have been established in Patagonia. Thanks to the work done, there were already a million penguins in 2017. Currently, the population numbers about 2 million individuals.
