The Story The Story presents Planet Hope: The penguin guardian of Patagonia
Sep 13, 2025
Pablo García Borboroglu, founder of the Global Penguin Society and Rolex Award Laureate, shares his passion for protecting penguins in Patagonia. He discusses the emotional bonds formed through conservation and the transformative impact of community engagement. The challenges penguins face due to climate change are starkly highlighted, alongside innovative tracking methods and the significance of hybrid penguins in evolution. García Borboroglu also emphasizes the power of recognition in elevating conservation efforts and inspiring public awareness.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Grandmother Sparked A Lifelong Mission
- Pablo's grandmother introduced him to penguins and inspired his life-long dedication to them.
- He used photos of rehabilitated penguins to comfort her during her final days, deepening his bond with the birds.
From Beaches Full Of Oil To Policy Change
- In the 1980s about 40,000 penguins died annually in Pablo's province from small, frequent oil spills.
- He and colleagues built a crude rehabilitation centre and used media attention to force policy changes like moving tanker lanes offshore.
Make Conservation Cases Like A Lawyer
- Use diverse skills—diplomacy, law and science—to make effective conservation cases to politicians.
- Prepare evidence like a legal case and present it in accessible language to secure policy changes.