Climate change pushing penguins close to extinction

A new report from the WWF has warned that melting sea ice and overfishing has caused a rapid decline in penguin populations on the Antarctic peninsula.

Global warming has had a major part to play according to the WWF – temperatures on Antarctica are rising five times faster that the global average and four species of penguin are now perilously close to extinction. The warmer temperatures mean that penguins now have to raise their young on thinner and more precarious ice flows than ever before, and stronger winds means that eggs and chicks are frequently blown away from their parents.

The four species most at risk are the gentoo, chinstrap, adelie and emperor as the melting sea ice causes nesting sites to disappear and reduces vital food sources like krill.

According to the WWF’s research, sea ice in the West Antarctic peninsula has receded by 40% in the last 26 years. This has caused some penguin colonies to decline by up to 66%.