Ukulandela Ialbatross

Ialbatross eyehla yenyuka, edume ngokundiza kwayo ilandele umkhumbi, sekuyisikhathi eside ijabulisa abahamba ngemikhumbi. Izimpiko zalenyoni ezingamamitha amathathu zinengxenye ekhonweni layo elihle, elibonakala lingadingi mzamo lokuntaza. Izinzwane ezinkulu ezihlanganiswe yinyama eyisicaba zisekela lenyoni lapho imile; lapho indiza, ziyenza ikwazi ukundiza kahle, zisebenza njengento yokuqondisa ukundiza kwayo, njengoba ziphumela ngale komsila omfishane walenyoni.

Lenyoni, ngokuvamile enesisindo cishe esingamakhilogremu angu-⁠9, inendlela ehlaba umxhwele yokusuka phansi. “Indlela yokusuka phansi yeAlbatross indizele emoyeni iyefana neyendiza esukela futhi yehlele emanzini. Ngokwelula umqala wayo futhi inwebe nezimpiko zayo, ishaya izinyawo zayo ngokushesha okukhulu indizele emoyeni izinyawo zayo ezinezinzwane ezihlanganiswe yinyama zinabalale. Ngokushesha isifuba salenyoni sesingaphandle kwamanzi kuyizinyawo kuphela eziwathintayo. Ngesikhathi isisemoyeni iAlbatross ibuyela esimweni sayo sokundiza, umqala ubuyele ngaphakathi bese izinyawo ziye ngemuva.”​—⁠The New Larousse Encyclopedia of Animal Life.

Lesisazi semimoya evunguzayo ephakathi kokuphakama okungamadegree angu-40 nangu-60 ukuya eningizimu sihlala eziqhingini ezithe qekelele. Ukusuka lapho sehla senyuka ezindaweni ezikude sifuna ukudla. Kodwa siya kude kangakanani?

Ososayensi bafaka amatransmitter amancane kuma-albatross ayisithupha eduna ehla enyuka ayegobe amadlangala eningizimu ntshonalanga yeIndian Ocean. Besebenzisa amasatellite ukuba bawalandelele, labacwaningi bamangala ukuthola ukuthi ama-albatross ayehambe amakhilomitha aphakathi kwangu-3 620 nangu-15 090 ngesivinini cishe esingamakhilomitha angu-80 ngehora. Ezinsukwini ezingu-33 kuphela, lezinyoni zasolwandle zahamba amakhilomitha angu-16-​000, cishe izikhathi eziyisikhombisa kunalokho kuqala okwakucatshangwa ukuthi kungenzeka.

Ikhono elimangalisa kakhulu lokundiza kwealbatross ngokuqinisekile lishukumisela ekudunyisweni koMklami wayo.​—⁠IHubo 148:​10, 13.