The king penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus) is the second largest of the 18 species of penguins in the world. It is a migratory bird that moves in search of food, from its breeding areas in sub-Antarctic islands to the Antarctic circumpolar waters.
Centuries ago, the king penguin shared its habitat with the indigenous peoples who inhabited the island of Tierra del Fuego, a connection revealed by the discovery of bone remains of this species in Selk’nam occupation areas.
Over the years, various visits of king penguins to Magallanes and Tierra del Fuego have been recorded. In 2010, breeding of this species was observed in Bahía Inútil, a phenomenon that has been repeated since then. Several seasons passed without success until 2015 when the first chick, already as a juvenile, went to sea. Currently, continuous monitoring allows checking the status of the colony and detecting the threats it faces, such as introduced predators, climate change, and humans entering the colony. As a reserve, our task is to protect this penguin settlement, which is, due to the challenges it faces and its cultural legacy, a unique place in the world.
To protect biodiversity and archaeological remains, our visits are guided and have a limited capacity of visitors per day, which allows us to reduce the impact on the environment. Therefore, remember to reserve in advance.
