Emperor penguins are the largest and most iconic of all penguin species. They live exclusively in Antarctica, where they breed on the sea ice that surrounds the continent. They are superbly adapted to the harsh conditions of their icy home, but they are also highly vulnerable to the effects of global warming.
In 2022, there was a total failure breeding of Emperor penguins in the Antarctic.1 Four out of five major breeding colonies have lost all their chicks due to insufficient ice on their breeding grounds1.
This popular species of penguins became dear to our hearts and famous with the release of the Disney film “Happy Feet” in 2006. People fell in love with penguins, and now it seems the Disney cartoon movies will be the only place where emperor penguins are seen in the future. According to scientists, the emperor penguins may be extinct by the end of this century.
Why is the loss of sea ice catastrophic to penguins?
Penguins rely on firm sea ice for breeding. To breed successfully, they need stable land-fast sea ice, ice shelves, or grounded icebergs to raise their chicks.
Their breeding cycles begin at the onset of winter, between late March and early May. It takes 6 to 10 weeks for courtship and egg-laying. Once the eggs are laid, females leave the colony to forage, and males incubate the eggs2. They huddle in groups to limit heat loss, each tending their solitary egg for around 64 days2. Chicks hatch between July and August and totally depend on their parents for warmth and food. During the first 6-7 weeks of life, one parent always stays with the chick while the other forages and brings food for the youngster. After 7 weeks, chicks are left alone for periods of time while both parents fish to satisfy the chick’s growing demands. The chicks fledge between November and January. Fledging means they develop their waterproof feathers to allow them to withstand the sub-zero temperatures on their own and start entering the water without fear of freezing to death or drowning2. The ice must stay stable between April and January to complete the fledging process and ensure successful breeding.
Besides serving as their home, sea ice affects food availability for emperor penguins. They feed mainly on fish, squid, and krill, which are small shrimp-like crustaceans that thrive in the cold waters of the Southern Ocean.3 Krill’s availability depends on algae that grow under the sea ice, so if there is not enough sea ice, it means less food for krill and consequently less krill for penguins.
Additionally, sea ice controls the predators of emperor penguins. Emperor penguins are the largest species of penguins. Still, they face threats from other Antarctic inhabitants like leopard seals, killer whales, and skuas, large seabirds that prey on penguin eggs and chicks3. Sea ice can offer some protection from these predators by creating barriers or hiding places for penguins.
How climate change threatens emperor penguins
Climate change is causing the Antarctic Sea ice to melt at an alarming rate. According to a recent Communications Earth & Environment study, sea ice loss could lead to a "catastrophic breeding failure" for emperor penguins throughout Antarctica1. The study used population models to project the fate of all known emperor penguin colonies under different greenhouse gas emission scenarios. It found that under current emission rates, the sea ice coverage will slowly become unstable to the point of becoming unusable by the penguins. Scientists forecast that penguin populations will decline until 2040 and become quasi-extinct by 2100, as 98% of their colonies will disappear.2
The study also took into account the effects of extreme climate events, such as El Niño and La Niña, which can cause sudden changes in sea ice conditions. These events can have devastating impacts on emperor penguin colonies by causing early or late break-up of the sea ice or reducing its stability. For example, in 2016, an unusually strong El Niño event caused the sea ice at Halley Bay, one of Antarctica's largest emperor penguin colonies, to break up prematurely2. This resulted in the death of almost all of the chicks that year, and the colony has not recovered since.
Climate change is not only affecting the quantity but also the quality of sea ice for emperor penguins. As the atmosphere and ocean warm up, the sea ice becomes thinner and more fragile, making it more prone to melting or breaking up. Thinner sea ice also means less insulation for the penguins from the cold air and water below, increasing their energy expenditure and reducing their survival chances.4
What can be done to protect emperor penguins?
Emperor penguins are currently listed as near threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), but some scientists and conservationists argue that they should be upgraded to endangered or even critically endangered status.4 Increasing the endangered status would raise awareness of their plight and trigger more legal and political actions to protect them. Actions such as mobilizing international cooperation and commitment from governments, businesses, and individuals to adopt more sustainable practices and technologies to reduce global greenhouse emissions to slow down climate change and sea ice loss are needed to protect emperor penguins.
Additionally, emperor penguins could benefit from establishing marine protected areas (MPAs) around their colonies. It would limit human activities such as fishing, tourism, and research that could disturb or harm them or their prey. MPAs could also help preserve the biodiversity and ecosystem services of the Antarctic region, which are vital for its health and resilience.
In the meantime, robust population trends and movement monitoring should be done using satellite imagery, aerial surveys, and tracking devices. The collected information will provide accurate data on how the colonies are coping with changing sea ice conditions and if and where they are relocating. Tracking population trends will also alert scientists if any colonies are about to collapse. This information could advise conservation planning and management decisions for this species.
How you can help emperor penguins
The main threat to emperor penguins’ survival is climate change and the increase in the global average temperature that causes the polar cap ice to melt. As an individual, you may be wondering if there is anything you can do that will make a difference and reverse the trajectory of the demise of these majestic Antarctic birds and other wildlife. Here are some suggestions:
✔ Learn about emperor penguins and their challenges and share your knowledge and passion with others. Raising awareness of their plight may encourage prioritization of their endangered status.
✔ Support organizations that protect emperor penguins and their habitat, such as the Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition, the World Wildlife Fund, or the Pew Charitable Trusts. You can donate, volunteer, or join their campaigns and petitions.
✔ Reduce your carbon footprint by making more environmentally friendly choices in your daily life, such as using renewable energy, public transport, or cycling, buying local and organic food, recycling and reusing materials, and avoiding single-use plastics.
✔ If you get the opportunity, travel responsibly to Antarctica by choosing operators that follow the Antarctic Treaty System and the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators guidelines, which aim to minimize tourism's environmental and social impacts.
Conclusion
Emperor penguins are facing an uncertain future as climate change threatens their survival. They are highly dependent on sea ice for breeding, feeding, and avoiding predators, but sea ice is declining rapidly due to global warming. If nothing is done to curb greenhouse gas emissions, most emperor penguin colonies could disappear by the end of this century, making them effectively extinct. However, some actions can be taken to protect them, such as reducing emissions, creating marine protected areas, and monitoring their population numbers. Emperor penguins are not only magnificent animals but also important indicators of the health of Antarctica and the planet. They deserve our attention and care.
References
1. Fretwell, P. T., Boutet, A., & Ratcliffe, N. (2023). A record-low 2022 Antarctic Sea ice led to catastrophic breeding failure of emperor penguins. Communications Earth & Environment, 4(1), 273. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-023-00927-x
2. Winterl, A., Richter, S., Houstin, A., et al. (2023). Remote sensing of emperor penguin abundance and breeding success. Bio Rxiv, 2023.08.24.554580v1. https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.08.24.554580v1
3. The Guardian. (2014, June 29). Emperor penguins at risk of extinction, scientists warn. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/jun/29/emperor-penguins-at-risk-of-extinction-scientists-warn
4. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. (2023, August 24). Emperor penguins threatened by climate change. https://www.cbc.ca/news/science/emperor-penguins-threatened-climate-change-1.6629076
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