Chile counts its endangered Humboldt penguins

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Chile is counting its endangered Humboldt penguins

This island sits some 100 miles northwest of Santiago

Location: Cachagua Island

Conservationists hope to shed new light on their behavior

JAVIERA MEZA, HEAD OF CONSERVATION AT CHILE'S CONAF FORESTRY SERVICE IN VALPARAISO:

"We are doing a census of Humboldt penguins because we need to understand the behavior of this species. We have here, on Cachagua Island, a natural monument, one of the most stable reproductive colonies in the country."

Humboldt penguins are considered a vulnerable species

and have undergone extreme population fluctuations

"We have a population that fluctuates between one thousand and 1,500 specimens and, therefore, for us it is essential to know how their behavior changes over the years. And we have been coming here to the islet for more than 20 years and we monitor the population of the species."