Why Emperor Penguin Populations are Declining

The emperor penguin is the heaviest and largest of the penguin species and is listed on the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources’s Red List as near threatened. Reasons cited include population reduction, small population size and decline, extinction probability analysis, very small or restricted population numbers and a restricted geographic range. While the status of the penguin is not as severe as other animals, the best way to preserve them is to take action before they disappear.

About the Emperor Penguin

These birds stand anywhere from 3.5 to 4.3 feet and can weigh anywhere from 50-90 pounds. You can tell them apart from other penguins by their distinct black and white plumage. The penguin’s head is black with a patch on the side of its neck, usually a yellow-orange color, their backs are black, and their bellies are white. Their coloring helps them blend into their surroundings for safety and protection. They have flippers rather than wings (although they are considered birds), which they use to move through water quickly.

These penguins aren’t often observed in the wild because they live in the freezing temperatures of Antarctica. Their thick feathers and layer of fat insulate them against the cold and keep them warm. Their feathers are water-resistant and dense, so they can dry off quickly even when swimming, and they huddle for warmth when it’s brutally cold.

Emperor penguins live in large colonies of up to 5,000 penguins at times. The colonies can be so large that sometimes they can be seen from space. Experts believe the largest colony has up to 4,000 breeding pairs and is located near Snow Hill Island in Antarctica. Sometimes colonies are spotted closer to research stations at Signy, Rothera, King Edward Point, Halley and Bird Island.

Emperor penguins eat krill, squid and fish. They can dive up to 1,500 feet to hunt their food, which gives them a larger variety of food sources. While they warm in groups, they hunt alone but have the swimming capabilities to catch prey underwater quickly and efficiently.

How Emperor Penguins Breed

Even though they live in large colonies, emperor penguins are the least common Antarctic penguins. Scientists estimate anywhere from 265,000 to 278,000 breeding pairs are left in the wild. These couples participate in a complex and unique courtship. The males first offer the females a pebble as a gift, which starts the process of building a nest. After mating, the female penguin lays a single egg. The male then takes it and carries it during the 65-day incubation period. He keeps the egg covered by a flap of skin on his feet. During this time, the female feeds in the sea and the male fasts and survives on fat storage.

After the penguin is born, both parents participate in chick rearing, sharing the responsibilities of feeding the chick and keeping it warm until it can take care of itself, which is usually at about five months old.

The Dangers Facing Emperor Penguins

While the penguins are not under immediate threat of extinction, climate change greatly threatens their future. Experts fear that if Antarctica’s temperatures rise by even 3.5 degrees F, it will threaten a good portion of the emperor penguin population, continuously reducing food availability and breeding grounds.

In 2022, they experienced catastrophic losses of young because of a total sea ice loss. The penguins breed on ice that is attached to the land. When it melts, they move to more stable areas the next year, but warming across an entire region decreases suitable spots and makes it impossible to find a safe place to raise babies until they are able to stay warm and care for themselves. If current trends continue, experts predict that their colonies will be extinct by 2100. In this massive event in 2022, scientists believe that only one of the five known breeding colonies had surviving chicks.

Penguins also stabilize on the sea ice before they dive to find food. If temperatures rise at the current rate, sea ice will be gone from the Arctic by the 2030s. This leaves the species with nowhere to exist and rest between diving efforts for food.

Emperor Penguin Conservation Efforts

The emperor penguin is protected under the Endangered Species Act enforced by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, which protects species that are threatened or endangered. The Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition also helps them adapt to changing environments and protects them from pollution and fishing. The concern isn’t fishing the penguins themselves, but depleting the ocean of their food sources. Climate change is addressed regularly by the Center for Biological Diversity. The center protects vulnerable species through the enforcement of environmental laws and advocating for global policies that protect threatened animals. They also host public awareness campaigns to help the public better understand how our actions alone can harm the breeding efforts of penguins thousands of miles away.

How You Can Help

The most important role you can play in the conservation efforts of the emperor penguin is to educate yourself and your community about the negative effects of climate change and take steps to reduce your carbon footprint. Also, research laws and rules regarding tourism so you’re a responsible traveler. And finally, consider donating to one of the organizations listed above.