“The bees stung these birds to death”said to the AFP Dr. David Roberts, veterinarian of this foundation.
The dead penguins were discovered on Friday on the beach in Simon’s Town, about 40 kilometers from Cape Town.
They found stings near the eyes and also saw dead bees on the beach, Roberts said.
In addition to autopsies, veterinarians will perform other tests for disease or toxic substances.
Roberts lamented a “rare and unusual” event that affects an endangered species, but acknowledged that “bees are also part of the ecosystem.”
South Africa is home to the largest community of African penguins in the world.
This species had a population of 13 thousand pairs in 2019, mainly distributed between South Africa and Namibia.
African penguins are in danger of extinction, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).