Bees kill dozens of endangered penguins

Dozens of critically endangered South African penguins have been killed after a swarm of bees attacked a beach outside Cape Town.

Locals found 63 dead African penguins on Sunday in the town of Simon, near Cape Town, which is a nature reserve for rare penguins.

"After the tests, we found bee stings around the eyes of the penguins," said veterinarian David Roberts.

"There were also dead bees in the place," he said.

This is a rare occurrence that we don't expect much.

It is just a coincidence.”

"The penguins should not die in this way," the doctor added.

It is already in danger of extinction.

It is a protected species.”

An autopsy of the corpses of the penguins showed that all of them had suffered from bee stings, in separate parts of their bodies.

The South African National Parks Department said samples from birds were also sent to check for diseases and toxins, explaining in a statement that "no external physical injuries were found in any of the penguins."

African penguins, which live on the coast and islands of South Africa, are on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List, meaning they are in critical danger of extinction.