The Story The Story presents: Planet Hope - the penguin guardian of Patagonia
Dec 26, 2025
Pablo García Borboroglu, a conservationist and founder of the Global Penguin Society, discusses his lifelong dedication to protecting penguins in Patagonia, inspired by stories from his grandmother. He shares the challenges penguins face, from oil spills in the 1980s to climate change today. Pablo highlights the successes of his organization, such as growing penguin colonies through community engagement. He emphasizes the urgent actions needed to protect these birds and what people can do to contribute, all while underscoring the hope inspired by conservation efforts.
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Grandmother Sparked A Lifelong Passion
- Pablo García Borboroglu credits his grandmother for introducing him to penguins and connecting him to nature from childhood.
- He used photos of rehabilitated penguins to bring joy to her during her final days, cementing his lifelong commitment.
Small Spills Caused Large Mortality
- Frequent small oil spills in the 1980s caused massive penguin mortality that people accepted as normal.
- Media attention and rehabilitation work forced political change, moving tanker lanes and cutting deaths from tens of thousands to almost zero.
Translate Science Into Actionable Policy
- Translate scientific findings into accessible language and use them to justify concrete conservation actions.
- Fund and partner with governments to drive protected-area creation and ensure implementation.