emperor penguins

Record low sea ice in late 2023 led to breeding failures in one-fifth of Antarctica’s emperor penguin colonies, with tens of thousands of chicks likely dying as a result. The penguins depend on sea ice attached to the shore to raise their young, and if the ice breaks up too early, the chicks may freeze or drown. Some colonies adapted by moving their breeding locations to better ice, showing that the birds can adjust to changing conditions to some extent. However, scientists predict that 99% of emperor penguins could be lost by the end of the century if sea ice continues to decline due to climate change.