Punta San Juan, a marine-coastal reserve in Peru, is a critical habitat for endangered species including Humboldt penguins. Declared a protected area in 2009, it is part of Peru’s Reserva Nacional Sistema de Islas, Islotes y Puntas Guaneras, which has 33 sites along the coast.
Guano has been an incredibly valuable natural fertiliser for the country since the 1800s and historically the exports helped shape the country. Sustainable harvesting keeps this tradition alive in a way that is good for people and the planet. It reduces the need for synthetic fertilisers and actually helps maintain healthy nesting areas by clearing out excess buildup. In joining this project, we will be working alongside a host of other zoos and aquariums from across the world — not just in protecting wildlife, but also in promoting education, habitat care, and sustainable practices.
Guano harvests occur each year and involve the mobilisation of over 150 workers who establish temporary camps to collect this valuable natural resource, generating a delicate coexistence between humans and the wildlife inhabiting these coastal areas. It is critical to manage human activity to avoid disturbing nesting birds and seals. The team on-site uses strategies like penguin blinds, no-access zones, and wildlife monitoring to make sure the harvest is done responsibly. By supporting this, we're helping to protect wild penguins and ensure the long-term health of their habitat, and ensuring the 2025 guano harvest is conducted sustainably, safeguarding Punta San Juan’s unique biodiversity and setting a replicable standard for conservation.
In 2025, Punta San Juan will undergo another guano harvest. One of The Deep's Aquarists has recently volunteered in Peru as part of the program, to assist with the below:
1. Mitigate Wildlife Disturbance:
- Enforce no-access zones to protect Humboldt penguin nesting areas.
- Use moveable penguin blinds to create “penguin corridors,” reducing visual disturbance during feeding trips.
- Collect information on guano harvest progress (GPS coordinates of extraction area).
2. Maintain Wildlife Populations:
- Prevent harvest workers from accessing beaches and cliffs where pinnipeds and seabirds breed.
- Monitor behavioral changes caused by human activity during harvest.
3. Invasive Species Control:
- Address rodent predation on Inca tern and Humboldt penguin eggs and chicks, which threatens breeding success.
- Set up traps in wild and administrative areas to prevent rats fleeing from the workers’ camp to wild zones.
4. Environmental Education:
- Provide talks to harvesters, organize beach cleanups, and engage the local Marcona community to promote wildlife protection and sustainable practices. Volunteers will also have time to get familiar with routine program activities.
