For most of us, when we think of emperor penguins, we think of cute black-and-white birds on ice, waddling, sliding, and cuddling close to one another. They’re the largest species of penguins on Earth, living only in Antarctica. That means they’re reliant on the cold weather that the southern pole provides.
Which also explains why the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) just declared emperor penguins a newly-endangered species. They have been joined by Antarctic fur seals, which the IUCN also just listed as endangered, while southern elephant seals have been newly categorized as vulnerable.
Sign the petition to demand that nations cooperate to conserve and protect emperor penguins before it’s too late!
Sea ice is imperative for these birds. The ice is not only where they live and breed, but it’s also where they hunt for fish. As climate change intensifies, not only is sea ice rapidly disappearing – reaching record-low amounts recently – but fish are also changing their migration habits. Together, this is making survival increasingly difficult for emperor penguins.
In the nine years between 2009 and 2018, researchers estimate that the emperor penguin population had reduced by around 10%. In some colonies, that drop was even greater – as much as 32%. In fact, one scientist with the British Antarctic Survey said that “various studies predict quasi-extinction in many of the colonies.”
Two things need to happen, urgently. First, major industrialized countries – which are responsible for the vast majority of greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change – need to genuinely commit to cutting their emissions to net zero. And second, they must also implement strong protections for emperor penguin habitat, for example by keeping it safe from tourists.
Sign the petition to demand international cooperation to save emperor penguins!
This article by Nicholas Vincent was first published by One Green Planet on 19 May 2026. Lead Image: Image Credit: vladsilver/Shutterstock.
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