Sooty albatrosses are a type of albatross that spend most of their time in the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans. They nest on islands there.
The interesting name of these birds comes from the sooty brown colour of their feathers.
Like many other species, sooty albatrosses are endangered too. Scientists say that the decline in their population has happened over three generations, or 90 years. The reasons for this are many. One of them is the introduction of rats that consume the eggs of these birds. When uncontrolled, this slowly affects the population in that area. The birds are also highly vulnerable to avian cholera, and infections like erysipelas, caused by bacteria.
Another reason is pollution caused by plastics, oil and chemicals, which affect the albatrosses negatively.
Besides, there are also reports suggesting that many of these birds are injured or killed accidentally by fishing gear in the water.
Picture credit: google