Abstract
The Peruvian Pelican Pelecanus thagus is an endemic species of the Humboldt Current System. Between November 2022 and March 2024, the avian influenza epidemic and El Niño conditions significantly affected the pelican population. This study provides an update on the population size and breeding status of the species in Peru. Pelican abundance decreased by 31.5% to 37.6% within marine protected areas. The number of live pelicans ranged from 1,652 to 46,046 in 2023 and from 14,505 to 52,540 in 2024, based on counts conducted in natural protected areas by Peruvian government officials. Breeding primarily occurred on six islands between October 2023 and April 2024, despite the El Niño conditions that affected coastal conditions from March 2023 to March 2024. The combined effects of El Niño, zoonotic diseases, climate change, and other threats raise serious concerns about the long-term viability of this species.
DOI
http://doi.org/10.5038/2074-1235.53.2.1652
Creative Commons License
Recommended Citation
Ayala, Liliana and Sandoval-Lazaro, Gabriela
(2025)
"Updating the Status of the Peruvian Pelican Pelecanus thagus Following Avian Influenza and El Niño Events in Peru,"
Marine Ornithology: Vol. 53
:
Iss.
2
, Article 6.
http://doi.org/10.5038/2074-1235.53.2.1652
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/marine_ornithology/vol53/iss2/6