Penguin 'condos' built along Galapagos isles

[Judi Lynn]

Penguin 'condos' built along Galapagos isles
Endangered species gets 120 tiny caves to help protect its population

http://msnbcmedia2.msn.com.nyud.net:8090/j/MSNBC/Components/Photo/_new/101019_PenguinCondo.grid-8x2.jpg
<sub>Dee Boersma / University of Washington
A "condo" for Galápagos penguins is prepared last month along the Galapagos coastline.

msnbc.com
updated 2 hours 42 minutes ago 2010-10-19T19:31:00</sub>

"Condo" developers have built beach-front homes along the world-famous coastline of the Galapagos Islands — but it's all for a good cause.

Built into the volcanic shoreline, the condos are actually tiny breeding caves for Galapagos penguins — a species listed as endangered.

The 120 caves were dug by researchers with the University of Washington last month in the hopes of giving the penguins a fighting chance against predators and the beating sun.

The local penguin population has also seen older nests disappear due to erosion and volcanic activity on the islands off Ecuador made famous by Charles Darwin.

More:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39743412/ns/world_news-world_environment/