SEKULESIKHATHI eside kucatshangwa ukuthi inyoni ezithiwa yi-arctic tern ziphapha umango ongamakhilomitha angaba ngu-35 200 zisuka endaweni okuthiwa yi-Arctic zisiya kwenye okuthiwa yi-Antarctica kanye lokuphenduka. Kodwa ukuchwayisisa okusanda kwenziwa kuveza ukuthi inyoni lezi ziphapha umango odlula lapho.

Ezinye inyoni lezi zafakwa imitshina emincane elesisindo esingaphansi kwesesivalo sepheni. Imitshina le yatshengisa wonke umango owahanjwa zinyoni lezi. Abachwayisisayo babona ukuthi zaphapha amakhilomitha angaba ngu-90 000. Ayikatholakali enye inyamazana ehamba umango omude kangaka. Enye yezinyoni lezi yaphapha amakhilomitha angaba ngu-96 000. Yindaba sebekuntshintsha ababekutshilo?

Kungelani lokuthi zaqalela ngaphi ukusuka, inyoni lezi aziphaphanga zilandela indlela eyodwa eqondileyo. Umfanekiso ophezulu utshengisa ukuthi zaphapha njani zidlula e-Atlantic Ocean. Okwenza zaphapha ngendlela le yikuthi zazilandela lapho umoya owawusiyakhona.

Inyoni lezi ziphila iminyaka engaba ngu-30 njalo ziyabe seziphaphe amakhilomitha adlula 2,4 miliyoni. Lokhu kulingana lokuhamba uphenduka kuze kube kathathu loba kane enyangeni usuka emhlabeni. Omunye ochwayisisayo wathi: “Kuyamangalisa kakhulu lokho okwenziwa yinyoni encane kangaka elesisindo esingaba ngamagramu ayi-100.” Elinye ibhuku lithi, “inyoni lezi zibona ilanga ukwedlula ezinye izidalwa.” Lokhu kubangelwa yikuthi ziyafika e-Arctic ngesikhathi sokutshisa njalo zibuyele e-Antarctica sekuyisikhathi sokutshisa.