Penguins in Antarctica are dying in masses. Adelie penguins live out their lives in Antarctica. If you’ve ever watched Happy Feet or March of the Penguins, you have an idea of the world that they live in. It’s a place where normally penguins thrive. Lately, though, Adelie chicks have been dying in great numbers.
Wikimedia Commons / Michel
The death toll has been so large that it has scientists, environmentalists and animal lovers very concerned. Thousands of penguin chicks starved to death when their parents did not return with food. Some believe that climate change is causing the problem, while others blame for fishing by humans. Whatever the cause, one this is for sure and that is that something needs to change in order for these penguins to survive.
Wikimedia Commons / Inaglory
Each year, about 18,000 breeding pairs of Adelie Penguins meet on the Eastern Antarctic coast in a place called Terre Adelie. It is there in Terre Adelie that the penguins breed and raise their young. When the chicks are about 3 weeks old, the parents are able to leave them while they go hunting for fish. This year however by the time the parents returned, all but 2 chicks had died. It was such a massive death toll that dead bodies of chicks were scattered everywhere.
Wikimedia Commons / Strzelecki
It is likely that this same scenario may happen again next year. Something similar actually happened 4 years ago. The region had experienced unseasonably low temperatures and rain. The chicks ended up freezing to death. Reports say that none of the babies survived that year.
Wikimedia Commons / Auch
How You Can Help The Adelie Penguins
Thankfully, this is not the only Adelie colony on the planet. The total population of this type of penguin is actually growing. But as for this colony in Terre Adelie, environmental groups have pushed for measures to be taken to protect this penguin habitat. If you would like to learn more about how you can help this penguin colony, visit the World Wildlife Federation by clicking here.
Upvote Downvote
Total votes: 0
Upvotes: 0
Upvotes percentage: 0.000000%
Downvotes: 0
Downvotes percentage: 0.000000%