Brown specks on satellite image spark warning of 'catastrophic consequences' for beloved species
Yahoo News Australia • • world
Key Points:
- Scientists from the British Antarctic Survey have identified a severe new threat to Antarctica's ecosystem, noting a drastic decline in emperor penguin colonies at Marie Byrd Land over seven years.
- The number of penguin colonies in the region dropped from over 100 before 2022 to just 25 by 2025, coinciding with a significant loss of sea ice due to climate change.
- Emperor penguins rely on stable sea ice during summer for moulting, a vulnerable period when they cannot feed and risk hypothermia or predation if forced into the ocean prematurely.
- The rapid melting of sea ice in Marie Byrd Land, which historically supported 40% of the emperor penguin population, poses catastrophic risks to the species
