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Emperor Penguins Declared Endangered: 60% Decline in 25 Years Due to Climate Change

Emperor Penguins Declared Endangered: 60% Decline in 25 Years Due to Climate Change

Khaosod•International•1d ago

Reader Briefing

Emperor penguins are now officially classified as endangered by the IUCN due to significant population decline and habitat loss caused by melting sea ice.

  • •The IUCN has reclassified Emperor Penguins from 'near threatened' to 'endangered' due to a severe survival crisis.
  • •Their population has dropped by nearly 60% in the last 25 years, from 2.2 million in 1999 to 940,000 currently.
  • •Climate change and melting sea ice, which serves as their breeding and feeding grounds, are the primary drivers of this decline.
  • •Scientists predict a further drop to under 450,000 by 2080 if current trends persist.

Overview

  • •The Emperor Penguin population has decreased by nearly 60% within 25 years, from approximately 2.2 million in 1999 to 940,000.
  • •Emperor Penguins, the symbolic animal of Antarctica, are facing the most severe survival crisis due to melting sea ice.
  • •Melting sea ice is causing breeding grounds to break up before chicks can mature, leading to failed reproduction.
  • •The lack of stable ice also diminishes their habitat and makes finding food more difficult.
  • •Scientists predict the global Emperor Penguin population could fall below 450,000 by 2080 if current trends continue.
  • •Severe strains of avian influenza are also posing a risk, though the threat to polar regions is currently low.
  • •Global warming may accelerate the spread of viruses, increasing risks for polar animals from multiple sources.
  • •Countries must strictly adhere to the Paris Agreement to control global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius, in order to preserve Emperor Penguins.

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Key Quotes

IUCN
"If the trend continues, by 2080, the global Emperor Penguin population may be less than 450,000."
หากแนวโน้มยังเป็นเช่นนี้ ภายในปี 2080 จำนวนเพนกวินจักรพรรดิทั่วโลกอาจเหลือน้อยกว่า 450,000 ตัว
Experts
"To preserve Emperor Penguins in nature, countries must strictly adhere to the Paris Agreement."
หากต้องการรักษาเพนกวินจักรพรรดิไว้ในธรรมชาติ ประเทศต่าง ๆ จำเป็นต้องปฏิบัติตาม ข้อตกลงปารีส อย่างเคร่งครัด

Key Entities

Organization

International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)(IUCN)ℹ️
An international organization that announced the endangered status of Emperor Penguins.
Emperor Penguin(เพนกวินจักรพรรดิ)ℹ️
A species of penguin now classified as endangered by the IUCN.

Place

Antarctica(ทวีปแอนตาร์กติก)ℹ️
The continent where Emperor Penguins are found and face threats to their habitat.

Law

Paris Agreement(ข้อตกลงปารีส)ℹ️
An international treaty aiming to limit global warming, adherence to which is deemed critical for Emperor Penguin survival.