The iconic ruler of the Antarctic, the Emperor Penguin, has unfortunately had its reign loosened by the greatest threat of all: climate change. Recently, the emperor has officially been moved onto the endangered species list, putting it at its most vulnerable it’s ever been. With rising global temperatures, satellite data shows that once massive and secure ice shelves have been reduced in size and break apart into even smaller chunks. The penguins rely on large breeding grounds to house their chicks, and that task is becoming more difficult than ever. Emperor penguins typically have chicks in very large batches every breeding season; the entire colony lays their eggs in unison. With their breeding grounds being disrupted, the majority of the colony may find their living conditions unsuitable for chicks, leading the birds to skip a breeding season.
On top of breeding issues, the chicks that are hatched are being raised on more sparse chunks of ice. Chicks don’t possess the waterproof feathers and swimming skills that their parents exhibit, so being around the frigid waters of the Antarctic is a very dangerous threat to them. Drowning and freezing to death are becoming unfortunately common problems for the hatchlings, who are used to living away from the water that has now encroached their territory. The rising tides have forced them into the water far too soon.
Unfortunately, rising tides aren’t the only things threatening the birds; food shortages have also been an ongoing issue. Overfishing has been devastating to krill populations, leaving many colonies with dwindling food sources. Oil spills, plastic pollution, and fishing nets can also impact the local ocean life, on top of the fact that they can kill the penguins directly.
The plight of these birds is a clear indicator of how fragile not just the Arctic is, but any of the planet’s ecosystems. With the damage humans have caused to the penguins’ food, environment, and lifestyle, the birds are being pushed to their limits more and more. Their future is becoming less reliant on their ability to persevere and more on global action to slow and reverse the damages of climate change. Many countries are attempting to reduce their carbon footprint, and there are many safeguarded areas being made to ensure a safe space for the penguins to thrive. The satellites used to discover breeding failures are also being used to study different facets of penguin behavior to better understand how we can help them passively. These efforts are great, but if we want to save this beautiful species from extinction, it will take a lot more action. Without help, one of nature’s most iconic animals may no longer be an icon of the Arctic, but rather an icon of the cost of climate change.
