An aggressive swarm of bees killed an estimated 63 African penguins outside Cape Town in South Africa last week, according to the country’s conservationists.
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Scientists found the endangered, protected birds dead in Simon’s Town in the Western Cape, the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds revealed.
A happy South African penguin. pic.twitter.com/Lg4Q0YN6X5
— Heather Gold (@heathr) September 20, 2021
“After tests, we found bee stings around the penguins’ eyes,” veterinarian David Roberts explained Sunday after post-mortem exams, calling it a “rare occurrence” and a “fluke.”
The International Union for Conservation of Nature says African penguins face an extreme risk of extinction, adding the species to its “red list.”
The land where scientists found the dead birds is part of Table Mountain National Park. Officials said there were “many dead bees” as well.
Cape honey bees play a significant role in South African agriculture, pollinating crops across the Western Cape.
The National Park said it’s still testing samples to rule out any other potential causes of death.
“We are grateful to all our conservation partners … for assisting us in investigating this unusual event,” said marine biologist Dr. Alison Kock. “We will continue to monitor the situation.”
WARNING: GRAPHIC IMAGES -More than sixty endangered South African penguins died at the Boulders African penguin colony in Simon's Town after being stung by Cape Honey bees ^NEWS pic.twitter.com/HRBoJ4p3hf
— Kaden Brightwell (@_Equable_) September 20, 2021
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