Why are people in Iceland throwing puffins off a cliff?

Throwing baby puffins off a cliff may sound crazy - but this strange act from people in Iceland is actually designed to help them fly.

As the summer comes to an end, baby puffins are supposed to leave their nests for the first time and head to the ocean guided by moonlight.

But the bright city lights often confuse them sending them back inland, where they can be more at risk from predators.

To help make sure they make it safely to the ocean, people on Iceland's Vestmannaeyjar islands have been stepping in.

Rescue teams and volunteers are set up to patrol towns and villages every night, picking up the stranded birds.

By taking the babies and bringing them back towards they sea, the birds are forced to take flight to avoid falling into the ocean.

This isn't a new practice but something that people living here do every year. So far this year they've recorded rescuing 2,046 puffins.

This adult puffin could easily show the babies how it's done

Vestmannaeyjar is home to Europe's biggest puffin colony, making it a very important place for puffin rescue efforts.

According to figures from the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) about 90% of Atlantic puffins live in Europe, with 80% nesting in Iceland and Norway.

The remaining 10% are found in Britain and Ireland.