The ice provides a platform for emperor penguin chicks to grow and thrive. Four of the five colonies in the Bellingshausen Sea experienced total breeding failures in 2022 because of absent sea ice.
What Makes Ice So Important?
During the egg-laying period from May to June, by December, young birds only begin to feather and fledge. If the ice disappears too soon, the chicks of emperor penguins drown or get separated from their parents. Our report regarding ice in Antarctica covers the lowest record ever.
How Extensive Are the Losses?
Around 30 percent of 62 known colonies experienced partial or total ice loss from 2018 to 2022. Predictions show that more than 90 percent of colonies may become almost extinct by 2100 as the climate keeps warming.
What Are the Solutions?
The species like emperor penguins was classified as threatened by the IUCN in April 2026. Experts believe that in this case, there is nowhere to go, and changing the course of events means reducing emissions while carefully regulating fishing in the Southern Ocean.
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