Emperor penguins may disappear due to melting ice (6 photos)

Emperor penguins are one of the most majestic creatures on the planet. Researchers from the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) have warned that 99 percent of these penguins could become extinct by 2100 if greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise at current levels.





Emperor penguins are under serious threat, researchers say. According to scientists from the British Antarctic Survey (BAS), by 2100, 99 percent of these birds could completely disappear from the wild. This will happen if greenhouse gas emissions on the planet continue to grow at the same level as now. In addition, even now, as the weather gets warmer, more and more ice is melting, which leads to high mortality of chicks.



"With fewer chicks surviving in many colonies, it is likely that over time some of the breeding sites will become uninhabitable and the overall emperor penguin population will decline," said Dr Peter Fretwell, a British Antarctic Survey scientist.





Emperor penguins breed and hatch chicks on sea ice. If this ice melts too early, the chicks go to sea before they can fledge - this can lead to high mortality rates. In their study, scientists analyzed the number of emperor penguins in the remaining 66 colonies in Antarctica. The analysis found that record low sea ice levels in late 2023 meant that 16 colonies were unable to raise their young and thousands of chicks died. In 2022, the indicators were even sadder: 19 colonies were unable to raise offspring.



Only a few of the colonies affected in 2022 adapted to the new conditions: some penguins moved elsewhere in search of more stable ice, and some bred on icebergs or ice shelves. This gives scientists hope that birds can respond to changes in their environment and move in search of better conditions.