A dramatic decline in seabird populations along Peru’s central Pacific coast has alarmed scientists, who are calling for urgent action to protect the region’s vulnerable wildlife.

Experts report that the population of guano-producing birds—including species like Peruvian boobies and Guanay cormorants—has dropped by over 75%, driven by a combination of climate change, overfishing, and disease outbreaks.

The region’s rich marine ecosystem, once thriving with millions of seabirds, sea lions, and penguins, is now at risk. Rising ocean temperatures and changing currents are disrupting the food chain, particularly the availability of anchovies, a critical food source for many of these species.

“This crisis is not only ecological but economic,” researchers warned, noting the historic importance of guano as a fertilizer and its role in Peru’s coastal economy.

Environmental scientists are urging the Peruvian government to increase marine protections, regulate fishing practices, and monitor avian diseases more closely before the situation becomes irreversible.