US EditionEmperor penguins face extinction by end of century as decline 'worse than previously thought'
- A new analysis released Tuesday shows emperor penguin populations in parts of Antarctica declined 22% from 2009 to 2024 across 16 monitored colonies.
- This decline follows earlier estimates of a 9.5% reduction from 2009 to 2018 and is mainly caused by climate change shrinking sea ice crucial for breeding and foraging.
- The surveyed colonies represent about 30% of the global population and cover the Antarctic Peninsula, Weddell Sea, and Bellingshausen Sea regions, although uncertainties remain about continental trends.
- Dr. Peter Fretwell said the loss may be "probably about 50-percent worse" than previous worst-case models, highlighting increased predator access and chick mortality due to earlier sea ice breakup.
- Experts warn that without stabilizing greenhouse gas emissions, emperor penguins may face near extinction by 2100, but mitigating climate impacts could enable their survival.
140 Articles
140 Articles
The Billings Gazette
Emperor penguins show dramatic decline in a region of Antarctica, satellite photos show
The estimated population of 16 penguin colonies — visible in satellite photos taken between 2009 and 2024 — declined 22% during that period.
RTV Slovenija
Het NieuwsbladA new study has found that the emperor penguin population in Antarctica shrank by 22 percent between 2009 and 2024 due to climate change. That's about 50 percent more than the most pessimistic expectations.
According to the results of new research, emperor penguin populations in Antarctica have decreased by almost a quarter due to global warming that is transforming their icy habitat. The study states that the losses are far greater than previously thought.
The world's largest penguins have declined by more than 20 percent in the past 15 years. Melting ice is throwing newly hatched penguin chicks to their deaths, according to a new study.
Satellite images show a dramatic decline in Antarctica's emperor penguin population — and it's happening faster than we thought
Using satellite images, researchers determined that the emperor penguin population in the core part of their Antarctic range decreased by 22% between 2009 and 2024.
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