WASHINGTON — The emperor penguin population in one part of Antarctica is declining far more than previously thought, according to a new analysis of satellite images released Tuesday.
According to observations made on 16 colonies between 2009 and 2024, their population would have fallen by 22%, mainly due to climate change which is reducing the available ice pack area. This reduction concerns a vast region encompassing the Antarctic Peninsula, The Weddell Sea and Bellingshausen SeaScientists do not yet know if this phenomenon extends to the entire continent.
"The sea ice is crucial for penguins: they breed there and use it to hunt," explains Peter Fretwell from the British Antarctic Survey, which participated in the data analysis.
Until now, estimates suggested a decline of around 10% of the total emperor penguin population across the Antarctic continent over the past 15 years. This new figure suggests a much more rapid decline in some areas.
"It is absolutely alarming that the figures are so bad compared to the forecasts," he reacted. Daniel Zitterbart, a researcher at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, who was not involved in the study.
The results remain subject to caution. The analysis is based on the estimated density of penguins observed in a satellite photo taken each year for each colony.
The colonies studied represent approximately 30% of the total population of emperor penguins, a species endemic to AntarcticaThe retreat of the ice pack does not only limit their breeding areas: it could also expose colonies to more predators like leopard seals or orcas, warns Fretwell.
Added to this are the effects of rising ocean temperatures and Team changes in precipitation patterns, which could affect the survival rate of chicks.
