On World Penguin Day – how these birds are coping with a changing climate

Today we celebrate World Penguin Day – a holiday dedicated to these extraordinary flightless birds that swim hundreds of kilometers in icy waters, form strong family bonds, and continue to surprise scientists with their ability to adapt to changing climatic conditions. Yet their world is shrinking year by year – melting ice, pollution, and habitat loss are challenges even these resilient birds may not overcome.

Penguins have their day – and rightly so!

World Penguin Day is celebrated annually on April 25. This date was not chosen randomly – it coincides with the beginning of the annual migration of Adélie penguins, which at this time begin preparing for their breeding season. The holiday was initiated within the scientific and environmental communities to highlight the threats penguins face: melting sea ice, plastic pollution in oceans, and overfishing, which deprives them of food.

Over time, the initiative gained global recognition, inspiring people around the world to take action to protect these charismatic creatures. Today, organizations such as WWF and IUCN use this day to launch educational campaigns, emphasizing the importance of maintaining balance in marine ecosystems.

The diversity of penguins

There are currently 18 known penguin species, each with its own unique traits and adaptations for survival in harsh conditions. The largest, the emperor penguin, is a true giant among its relatives – it can reach up to 120 cm in height and weigh as much as 45 kg, making it the biggest penguin. It is also one of the most resilient animals on Earth, capable of surviving Antarctic winters with temperatures as low as -60°C. On the other hand, the smallest, the little penguin – also known as the blue penguin – measures just 33 cm and weighs about 1 kg.

Penguins are master swimmers – their wings act like flippers, allowing them to reach speeds of up to 24 km/h, while their feathers form a waterproof layer that protects them from the cold. Interestingly, penguins spend most of their lives in the ocean, hunting for fish, krill, and squid, and only return to land during the breeding season, forming noisy colonies with thousands of individuals. Some species, like the rockhopper penguin, are true acrobats – they can jump up to 1.5 m high to reach rocky shores. Others, like the king penguin, dazzle with elegance, thanks to their bright golden-orange patches on the neck. Penguins are also highly social animals – their colony chatter can sound like a lively party, and penguin couples often remain faithful to each other for many years, making them a symbol of love and cooperation.

Adaptation or necessity?

When we think of penguins, images of Antarctica’s icy landscapes usually come to mind. Yet these remarkable birds can surprise us by appearing in places where no one would expect them. Magellanic penguins have begun nesting near human settlements in Puerto Madryn, Argentina. Facing a shortage of natural building materials, they started using waste like plastic bottles and fishing net fragments to create makeshift shelters. It’s astonishing how these birds can adapt to human-altered environments, though it also highlights the major problem of ocean pollution.

Even more surprising are the Galápagos penguins – the only species that lives on tropical Galápagos Islands. In a place where temperatures can exceed 30°C, they survive thanks to cool ocean currents that bring food and their clever behavior – they dive into the water to avoid overheating. However, even their adaptability has limits.

Climate change threatens penguins

Scientific research shows that emperor penguins could become extinct by 2100 if climate change continues unchecked. Models developed by the British Antarctic Survey and WHOI indicate that the loss of sea ice during the breeding season could lead to complete reproductive failure. In some parts of Antarctica, ice is already disappearing before the chicks learn to swim, which results in their deaths. In 2022, four out of five colonies in the Bellingshausen Sea experienced total breeding failure – the ice vanished, and the eggs and chicks drowned.

According to projections, if greenhouse gas emissions remain at current levels, up to 99% of emperor penguin colonies may disappear within the next 75 years. In 2022, the U.S. agency NOAA listed emperor penguins as a species threatened with extinction.

On World Penguin Day, we remind ourselves why they are worth protecting!

Penguins are not only symbols of love, loyalty, and cooperation – they are also indicators of the health of marine environments. Their wellbeing and numbers reflect changes taking place in oceans and the climate.

Faced with the dramatic consequences of climate change, scientists are calling for urgent action: reducing CO₂ emissions, strengthening habitat protection, and fostering global ecological solidarity. Protecting penguins is not just about saving one species – it’s a step toward preserving biodiversity and maintaining the balance of ecosystems.