Emperor penguins, the largest penguin species, have been classified as endangered as a result of a recent global evaluation of the impact of climate change on their environment and numbers. This reclassification is not just about one species; it underscores how human-driven climate change is negatively affecting ecosystems in Antarctica, where sea ice levels have reached unprecedented lows.
These penguins heavily rely on sea ice for activities like raising chicks and moulting, a period when they shed feathers and cannot swim safely in the ocean. However, due to global warming, the sea ice is breaking up earlier, as reported by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). This organization manages the worldwide Red List of endangered species.
Philip Trathan, a member of the IUCN specialist group involved in the emperor penguin’s Red List assessment, emphasized the importance of these penguins as indicators of our changing world and our efforts to control greenhouse gas emissions causing climate change. Satellite data shows a decline in the spring population of emperor penguins over the last decade, with estimates indicating approximately 256,500 breeding pairs in 54 colonies in 2020, down nearly 10% from 2009 to 2018.
The exact number of non-breeding penguins and chicks remains uncertain due to the challenging conditions in the remote Antarctic region. The assessment suggests that depending on the extent of global warming, emperor penguin populations could decrease by 30 to 59% in the next few generations.
The emperor penguin’s shift to the “Endangered” classification is a stark reminder of the accelerating extinction crisis caused by climate change, according to Martin Harper, CEO of BirdLife International. This global coalition of non-governmental organizations coordinated the IUCN’s evaluation of penguin species.
Besides the emperor penguin, the Antarctic fur seal has also been reclassified as endangered after its population plummeted by more than 50% between 1999 and 2025. The decline is attributed to changes in the distribution of their food source, krill, driven deeper into the ocean by climate change and warmer water temperatures. This shift has led to krill shortages impacting seal pup survival and overall population age structure.
Previously listed as “Near Threatened,” the emperor penguin’s new “Endangered” status signifies an imminent risk of extinction in their natural habitat. The assessment recommends enhanced monitoring of the penguins’ sea-ice habitats through satellite surveys to gain a better understanding of population dynamics.