Animals

Penguin

Penguins are a group of aquatic flightless birds. They live almost exclusively in the Southern Hemisphere, with only one species, the Galapagos penguin, found north of the equator. Highly adapted for life in the water, penguins have countershaded dark and white plumage, and their wings have evolved into flippers. Most penguins feed on krill, fish, squid and other forms of sea life which they catch while swimming underwater. They spend roughly half of their lives on land and the other half in the sea,More info:wiki

Below are photos and Images you may like

#10       These Adorable Penguins Are Totally Transfixed by a Man’s Yo-yo Skills (Video),More info:travelandleisure

 

#9     EMPEROR PENGUIN & MOUNTAIN SAFARI,More info:naturalworldsafaris

 

#8   Emperor Penguins of Antarctica,More info:wildimages-phototours

 

#7     Hidden Penguin Mega-Colonies Discovered in Antarctica,More info:news.nationalgeographic

Off the coast of western Antarctica, a tiny archipelago called the Danger Islands has been home to more than 1.5 million Adélie penguins that were hiding in plain sight.

The islands were long known to have penguins, but how many remained a mystery until satellite images and an on-the-ground survey revealed the colonies’ immense sizes.

The new counts include the third and fourth largest colonies of Adélie penguins in the world; in all, they increase the region’s known penguin abundance by nearly 70 percent.

The findings, published in Scientific Reports on Friday, are helping inform plans for conserving Antarctica’s waters, some of which have seen alarming declines of Adélie penguins. They also highlight how researchers can combine in-person and satellite data as never before.

#6     Video: Why is this penguin on a treadmill?,More info:sciencemag

 

#5     Climate change: 70% of king penguins could ‘abruptly relocate or disappear’ by 2100,More info:carbonbrief

The arduous journey that king penguins must make in order to hunt fish to bring back to their young could become even longer as the climate warms, research suggests.

The study finds that future ocean warming in Antarctica could drive the penguins’ primary hunting grounds further poleward – away from their favoured breeding spots.

If little is done to tackle climate change, up to 70% of king penguins could be forced to find new places to breed by 2100, the lead authors tell Carbon Brief.

However, if these animals cannot find anywhere suitable to move to, they could be at risk of “disappearing” by the end of the century, the authors add.

#4   Which penguin species will be hardest hit by climate change?,More info:birdlife

A feather is whipped into the air by an icy 50mph wind and carried off towards the horizon. The scientist curses, clutching with frozen fingers to no avail. That was no ordinary feather – that was destined to be a DNA sample in a ground-breaking study predicting how penguins will cope with one of the most pressing threats of our time: climate change.

It helps to be flexible in a world that’s constantly changing. Penguins in particular are set to be on the front line of climate change. As fish supplies shift and areas of suitable habitat disappear, will they be able to adapt? That depends on their ability to disperse. If a penguin is able to travel long distances, it can relocate to new habitats. It can also meet and interbreed with different colonies, maintaining a high genetic diversity – the ultimate insurance against changing conditions.

#3       10 Cool Reasons To Celebrate Penguins,More info:audubon

Let’s face it—penguins should just rule the world. Whether they’re doing conga lines on land, skinny dipping in the sea, or winning hearts on the big screen, these handsome birds can practically do anything (except fly, of course). But the sad fact is, penguins aren’t doing so hot in the wild: Of the 17 (or possibly 19) species across the world, five are endangered and eight are considered threatened or vulnerable, thanks to melting sea ice, overfishing, poaching, and other environmental dangers.

#2     EMPEROR PENGUINS & THE SOUTH POLE,More info:naturalworldsafaris

Spend your days exploring the Great White Continent and you will even have an opportunity to visit the geographic South Pole, as well as spend a night at an expedition camp. Your main camp, Whichaway, has been created using aerospace technology in order for you to experience one of the world’s toughest climates.

Starting in Cape Town, you fly down to the world’s largest desert, Antarctica; where upon arrival you settle into one of the most luxurious camps you can find in the Polar Regions. Each day of your safari you will be able to choose from a range of activities, taking it as easy as you like, or packing your days with adrenaline-charged adventures. Enjoy trekking, exploring ice tunnels and hikes to see colonies of Adelie penguins. Fly to Atka Bay, home to a breeding colony of Emperor penguins, the largest penguin species in the world.

#1     Climate change and fishing lay ‘ecological trap’ for African penguins,More info:carbonbrief

Climate change and commercial fishing are luring endangered African penguins into an “ecological trap” that threatens their survival, a new study warns.

Warming sea surface temperatures and overfishing have made food scarce in the usual feeding areas for African penguins. But young penguins aren’t able to keep up with the shift in their preferred prey.

The results of the study, published in Current Biology, suggest that the number of breeding penguins is 50% lower than it would be if they were able to find the best spots for feeding.

The study is the first to identify an ecological trap in marine environments, other scientists tell Carbon Brief, but climate change is likely to cause more in future.

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