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Emperor Penguin Numbers Plunge 22% Over 15 Years, Exceeding Projections

Researchers say urgent greenhouse gas reductions are needed to prevent accelerating sea ice loss from pushing emperor penguins toward extinction.

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Overview

  • Satellite analysis of 16 colonies across the Antarctic Peninsula, Weddell Sea and Bellingshausen Sea reveals a 22% decline in emperor penguin numbers between 2009 and 2024.
  • This drop surpasses prior estimates of a 9.5% decline continentwide from 2009 to 2018, indicating a faster-than-expected population loss.
  • Scientists link the declines primarily to shrinking sea ice and highlight that the magnitude of loss suggests additional impacts from shifting weather patterns and rising predation.
  • The monitored colonies account for almost 30% of the global emperor penguin population, emphasizing the broad scale of the downturn.
  • Researchers warn that without rapid stabilization of greenhouse gas emissions, emperor penguins could face near-extinction by the end of this century.