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"With a catastrophic 95% loss of Northern Rockhopper Penguin since the 1950s, the new BirdLife report comes just in time to give hope that the downward trend in numbers of this charismatic bird might be reversed", announced Professor Croxall.

Experts from across the globe met in Edinburgh (Scotland) to discuss the declines and to outline the research and conservation actions which are urgently needed. The results are presented in the new publication which provides all the latest scientific information in a comprehensive review which highlights potential causes of the declines such as climate change, pollution, changes in the marine food web, disease and fishery interactions.

Importantly, the report sets out the steps which must be taken to help save them. "Gaps in knowledge on many aspects to the rockhopper penguin's life cycle have to be resolved for effective conservation steps to be taken in order to reverse its population decline", added Prof. Croxall. "These need tackling as a matter of urgency."