Today Is World Penguin Day; How Is Global Warming Effecting Penguin Species in Antarctica?

komar.org

Recognized on April 25, World Penguin Day coincides with the time Antarctic penguins start their annual migration north.

According to earthsky.org, a new report, released today by Oceanities, calculated that there are 12 million penguins currently living in Antarctica.

A non-profit environmental, scientific and educational organization which claims to “see global climate through an Antarctic lens,” Oceanities believes its inaugural State Of Antarctic Penguins 2017 (SOAP) report, to be “the most comprehensive survey of Antarctic penguins yet”.

While the report includes information on all of the five penguin species found in Antarctica, it alarmingly reveals that Adélie and Chinstrap penguins have declined significantly in recent years due to warming on the Antarctic Peninsula.

coolantartica.com

“In one generation, I have personally witnessed the precipitous decline of once abundant Adélie and Chinstrap penguin populations,” said Ron Naveen who founded the organization in 1987. “These iconic birds are literally canaries in the coal mine. They provide critical insights into the dramatic changes taking place in the Antarctic. What’s happening to penguin populations can have important implications for all of us.”

Daily Mail

As further noted on its website, “these penguins are sending us messages we shouldn’t ignore about adapting — or not — to new environmental realities”.

The Emperor, Gentoo and Macaroni are the remaining penguin species calling Antarctica home.

coolantartica.com

An additional 12 species of penguin live in other areas of the world.