Emperor penguins primarily live on sea ice that is securely held along the coasts. However, with each passing year, the glaciers of Antarctica are melting faster, reducing the available habitats for these birds, which could lead to high mortality rates or even extinction.
Recent satellite images have revealed that penguins during molting, when they replace their feathers with new waterproof ones, face serious difficulties. For several weeks, they cannot enter the water to feed, putting them at risk.
Photos show that the reduction of sea ice forces penguins to gather in narrower and overcrowded groups. If the ice melts too early, it could lead to the complete destruction of the colony. Scientists emphasize that the melting of ice accelerates the extinction process of emperor penguins by decades.
Every year, these penguins travel a thousand kilometers from the Ross Sea to the Marie Byrd Land, searching for stable sea ice for molting. Their waterproof feathers play a crucial role in retaining heat; however, a special substance produced by a gland at the base of their tail is necessary to maintain them.
Feather replacement occurs once a year and lasts from three to four weeks, during which the penguins remain on land. Before this period, they actively feed, gaining weight to survive the prolonged fasting.
From 2022 to 2024, the area of sea ice in Antarctica reached historically low levels, shrinking from 500 thousand square meters to just 100 thousand.
Additional challenges are posed by the slow breeding rates of penguins. This species is not capable of quickly replenishing its numbers, as reported by scientists from BAS.
