Emperor penguins waddling to extinction

Emperor penguins waddling to extinction
By admin


Global warming will send Antarctica's emperor penguins into decline by 2100, scientists project, calling for the emblematic birds to be listed as endangered and their habitat better protected.

The world's largest penguin species came to global fame with a 2005 documentary, March of the Penguins, portraying their annual trek across the icy wastes, and the 2006 cartoon movie Happy Feet.

The new study sheds light on the birds' reliance on sea ice for breeding and raising their young.

The ice also protects their prey – fish and krill – by maintaining the food chain.

Declining sea ice caused by climate change would place all 45 known emperor penguin colonies into decline by 2100, according to the population simulation.

"At least two-thirds (of colonies) are projected to have declined by (more than) 50 per cent from their current size" by the end of the century, said the paper published in the journal Nature Climate Change.

Dynamics differ between colonies, but "the global population is projected to have declined by at least 19 per cent," after growing 10 per cent up to 2048, it added.

The team said colonies located between the eastern Wedell Sea and the western Indian Ocean will see the biggest declines, while those in the Ross Sea will be least affected.

In fact, the Ross Sea penguin population will continue to grow until 2100, after which the trend will reverse.

"Our results indicated that at least 75 per cent of the emperor penguin colonies are at least vulnerable to future sea ice change, and 20 per cent will probably be quasi-extinct by 2100," the paper said.

Given these findings, the emperor penguin "is fully deserving of endangered status due to climate change," the team said – referring to the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List of Threatened Species.

The bird is currently listed as "stable" by the IUCN's species bible.

Latest News

  • Products

Embrace the journey: Traversing the world with the Shokz OpenRun

If you’ve been on the wrong side of a final call in the airport, or missed the stop on rail journey, it might be time to invest in a pair of Shokz OpenRun headphones. Originally marketed as headphones for fitness fanatics, runners or cyclists with a keen to steer clear of a prang with a car, […]

  • Tour Operators
  • Tourism

TTC: Deals are driving up demand for September trips

The latest market research from TTC Tour Brands shows interest in international leisure travel remains high for 2024, with 77 per cent of Australians over 18 still planning trips this year. Notably, 28 per cent of those travellers are eyeing September for their journeys. Europe continues to be the most popular destination, with 68 per […]

  • Aviation

Qantas ‘working urgently’ to fix app data leak

Qantas is looking into customer reports that passengers have this morning been able to access other passengers’ personal information on the airlines app. X user Lachlan posted that he was able log into different accounts every time he opened the app. My @Qantas app logs me in to a different person each time I open […]

  • Hotels

Revamped Wailoaloa Beach hotel opens as Crowne Plaza Fiji Nadi Bay Resort & Spa

Crowne Plaza Fiji Nadi Bay Resort & Spa is open and ready for bookings after the first phase of a multi-million-dollar transformation. Part of IHG Hotels & Resorts’ premium collection, the transformation has seen the completion of 106 guestrooms showcasing contemporary interiors reflective of the premium Crowne Plaza brand and is a first for the […]

  • Luxury
  • News

Kamalaya Koh Samui clinches clutch of wellness awards

Kamalaya Wellness Sanctuary & Holistic Spa has so far clinched five prestigious awards in 2024, including being inducted into the ‘Hall of Fame’ at the World Spa & Wellness Awards in London. Founders of the Koh Samui sanctuary and spa John and Karina Stewart expressed their heartfelt gratitude for the awards. “We are profoundly honoured […]