Climate change puts penguins in peril

Climate change puts penguins in peril
3:55 PM Thursday Jan 30, 2014



Penguins are in peril because of extreme environmental conditions linked to climate change, research has shown.

Two new studies highlight the plight of penguin colonies trying to cope with the effects of global warming in Argentina and Antarctica.At both locations, the beguiling birds face an uncertain future.

Climate change is killing chicks from the world's biggest colony of Magellanic penguins at Punta Tombo, Argentina, by increasing the rate of drenching rainstorms and heatwaves, say scientists.

Meanwhile Adelie penguins on Ross Island, Antarctica, are finding it harder to feed as melting sea ice fragments to form giant icebergs.

Protected only by a downy coat, the Magellanic chicks can be left to struggle and die when rainstorms hit their colony.

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