Dead penguins washing up in Brazil; biologists say they’re starving, trying to figure out why

Hundreds of dead penguins dot Brazil’s beaches

SAO PAULO — Hundreds of penguins that apparently starved to death are washing up on the shores of Brazil.

Biologist Thiago do Nascimento says about 500 of the dead birds have been found in the last 10 days in Sao Paulo state.

Nascimento says they’re mostly Magellan penguins migrating north from Argentina, Chile and the Falkland Islands in search of food in warmer waters.

He said Tuesday that autopsies done on several revealed their stomachs were entirely empty — indicating they likely starved to death.

Scientists are investigating whether strong currents and colder-than-normal waters have made it tougher for the penguins to hunt the fish and squid they normally feed on.