From MercoPress · · 1m
BAS Researchers Find Chinstrap Penguin Colony Decline
Antarctic penguin colony loses half a million nests to climate change.
In brief
Antarctic penguin colony loses half a million nests to climate change. Zavodovski Island's chinstrap penguin population dropped 63% since 2011 due to warming Southern Ocean. Originally reported by MercoPress.
Penguin Colony Decline
BAS researchers found Zavodovski Island lost over half a million chinstrap penguins since 2011.
World's Largest Colony
Zavodovski Island cedes its title as the world's largest penguin colony to Cape Adare in the Ross Sea.
Population Decline
Chinstrap penguin numbers dropped 63% from 2011 to 2025, the highest rate in the world.
Climate Change Cause
Warming Southern Ocean disrupted penguins' food supply, moving krill southward into the Weddell Sea.
Penguin Behavior Shift
Chinstraps prefer cooler waters northwest of the island where Antarctic krill are found.
Macaroni Penguins
Macaroni penguin numbers increased 28% from 2011 to 2016 and remained stable since.
Endangered Status
Chinstrap penguins may become endangered on the IUCN Red List due to population declines.
The main idea
Zavodovski Island's chinstrap penguin population dropped 63% since 2011 due to warming Southern Ocean.
