Emperor Penguin populations in Antarctica are disappearing at an alarming rate. Yet these populations have plummeted by almost a quarter, largely owing to the impacts of global warming. More than 250,000 pairs of these gorgeous birds nest here. As their icy homes continue to melt, they are heading towards a more dangerous future. According to recent research, the population of 16 Emperor Penguin colonies is down an estimated 22 percent. This steep decline reveals just how brutally climate change is impacting our wildlife.
It’s a grim outlook for these avian ambassadors. Now warming temperatures are destabilizing and thinning the ice that Emperor Penguins need to breed. Because of this, nearly all colonies are calling for help to stay alive. In fact, in recent years, apiaries have experienced an alarming and disastrous decline. Whole cohorts of chicks fail to thrive as the ice they depend on melts under their feet. That is why the moment is so urgent. If we don’t take immediate action to reduce global carbon emissions, computer models forecast Emperor Penguins will go extinct by the end of the century.
The Breeding Challenges
Emperor Penguins are unusual breeders, the combination of which makes their decline all the more foreboding. Only the male Emperor bravely incubates the eggs through the long, brutal Antarctic winter. Over the months, he incubates their eggs, keeping them warm and safe until one day they hatch. During this time, the female goes on her own two-month long fishing expedition to feed her young.
Emperor Penguin chicks need to grow their waterproof plumage in order to live. This important process typically begins in mid-December. With increasing severity of ice conditions and regime shifts beginning to take place, more chicks are in danger of not making it through this crucial developmental stage. The impacts of climate change—wildfires, drought, flooding—are all obliterating habitats. This creates an alarming future for these birds.
“There’s no fishing. There’s no habitat destruction. There’s no pollution which is causing their populations to decline.” – Peter Fretwell
Climate Change Effects
Peter Fretwell, a researcher at the British Antarctic Survey (BAS), uses this same technology to follow wildlife from space. He champions the undeniable connection between climate change and the cratering populations of Emperor Penguins. He emphasizes that these birds are “probably the most clear-cut example of where climate change is really showing its effect.” As temperatures continue to soar, the ice that’s been home to their breeding grounds for years is melting and becoming more unstable.
From the moment monitoring started in 2009, things have only gotten exponentially worse. Fretwell … Emperor Penguin losses nearly 50 percent worse than previous most pessimistic estimate … . The need to combat climate change has reached a breaking point.
“It’s just the temperatures in the ice on which they breed and live, and that’s really climate change.” – Peter Fretwell
Hope for the Future
Although things are looking pretty bleak for Emperor Penguins right now, it’s not too late to save them. Fretwell, in a guest essay for BirdNote, explains how it’s still not too late to turn back from this trajectory and save these majestic avians. Yet, if humanity can orchestrate a deep and systemic enough transformation to balance climate emissions with removal, there is still a chance to pull back from the brink.
“We’ve got this really depressing picture of climate change and falling populations even faster than we thought but it’s not too late,” – Peter Fretwell
Much speculation has circulated in recent years about the future of Emperor Penguins. They could move southwards into cooler areas as their original ecosystems each year become more uninhabitable. This makes it a fantastic alternative to provide temporary respite for specific communities. It does underscore the need to act urgently on climate change and protect these remarkable animals.
