Red Alert for Emperor Penguins: New Study Calls for Endangered Status

Emperor penguins are a symbol of resilience. They endure brutal winters, raise their chicks on shifting ice, and live in some of the most extreme environments on Earth. But now their future is in danger.

A new study by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute (WHOI) encourages the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to reclassify emperor penguins on the Red List. Most importantly, evidence shows climate change is rapidly destroying the sea ice emperor penguins depend on for survival. This means that without action, emperor penguins may become a symbol of loss rather than endurance.

What This Red Status Means for Emperor Penguins

Emperor penguins are currently listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List, which means if current conditions continue or worsen, the species is at greater risk of vanishing forever. However, this recent study from WHOI shows these conditions are already worsening, suggesting the threat may be more severe than originally thought.

According to the research, there is enough evidence to support emperor penguins being renamed as Vulnerable, Endangered, or even Critically Endangered. This data has been submitted to the IUCN, and the organization is currently re-evaluating the status of emperor penguins.

“The IUCN Penguin Specialist Group has started to re-evaluate the literature and data for determining whether the Red List threat category should change,” says Dr. Stéphanie Jenouvrier, senior scientist and lead author of the WHOI study. “But the results of this process won’t be available until 2026.”

Not only would this change in status call for more attention from experts, but it would encourage meaningful change. For example, a new listing on the Red List would strengthen the case for additional Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and the species being protected by international agreements.

“The IUCN Red List assessment provides a science-based rationale for … protections,” adds Dr. Jenouvrier. “It also contributes to decision-making within other international bodies, such as the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM), where emperor penguins could be listed as a ‘Specially Protected Species’ — further enforcing conservation measures across their range.”

Why This Study Hits Hard

The study used a Multi-Model Large Ensemble, which incorporates various satellite images, population counts, and climate forecasts to fully understand what different futures might look like for emperor penguins.

Despite accounting for changes and uncertainties in the future, results from most of the models are the same: continued greenhouse gas emissions will only drive emperor penguins more toward extinction.

“Despite the uncertainties inherent in both climate projections and ecological modeling, the conclusion remains the same,” explains Dr. Jenouvrier. “Emperor penguins are marching toward extinction if current greenhouse gas emissions continue.”

Conservation Actions & What You Can Do to Help

While the future of emperor penguins may feel grim right now, experts stress that conservation efforts can still be made to save the species. For example, the WHOI’s study calls for the addition of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) to preserve breeding and feeding zones in essential places like the Ross Sea and the Weddell Sea.

“MPAs are a powerful tool to buffer penguin populations from additional stressors like krill fisheries, which compete for the same food resources,” adds Dr. Jenouvrier.

The study also encourages experts to list emperor penguins as “Specially Protected Species” in the Antarctic Treaty. This would require countries to prioritize their conservation efforts when making decisions that affect Antarctica’s natural environment.

But protecting emperor penguins isn’t just up to scientists or policymakers. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions — which is the root cause of ice loss — is where we, the general public, can help. Supporting clean energy initiatives, advocating for climate-friendly policies, and reducing our carbon footprints all matter, and the time to do so is now.

“What gives me hope is that the future of emperor penguins is not yet written,” says Dr. Jenouvrier. “It depends on the choices we make now.”