Why albatross divorce rates are on the rise

Albatrosses are known to be some of the world’s most loyal monogamous creatures, but their ‘divorce’ rates are on the rise.

Ordinarily, only one per cent of albatrosses separate after choosing a life partner.

But a 15-year study which has monitored 15,500 breeding pairs in the Falkland Islands has found that figure climbs to eight per cent with warmer water temperatures.

Researcher at the University of Lisbon, Dr Francesco Ventura, says “the environment has a direct impact on divorce”.

Normally, albatross divorce comes after a breeding season failure, with the female looking for a different male to up her chances of successfully breeding the next year.

But the new research shows pairs are now divorcing even if they’ve had a successful breeding season.

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