Emperor Penguin and Antarctic Fur Seal Declared Endangered Species

Illustrative image. Photo: freepik.com

Climate change in Antarctica is leading to sea ice transformations that are projected to halve the emperor penguin population by the 2080s. At the same time, a reduction in food availability has already led to a 50% decline in Antarctic fur seal numbers since 2000.

«As countries prepare to gather in May for the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting, these assessments provide key data for decision-making regarding this majestic continent and its amazing wildlife,» says Dr. Gretel Aguilar, IUCN Director General. «Antarctica's role as our planet's 'ice sentinel' is irreplaceable: it brings countless benefits to humanity, stabilizes the climate, and serves as a refuge for unique fauna.»

Climate Change Increases Drowning Risk for Penguin Chicks

The Emperor Penguin has been moved from the "near threatened" category to "endangered" in the IUCN Red List, based on predictions that its population will halve by the 2080s.

Satellite images show that between 2009 and 2018 alone, the species' population declined by approximately 10 percent, which corresponds to over 20,000 adult penguins. According to IUCN data, the main reason is the premature breakup and melting of sea ice, whose area has been dropping to record lows since 2016.

Emperor penguins require fast ice — sea ice "attached" to the coastline, ocean floor, or grounded icebergs. It serves as a habitat for their chicks and during molting when the birds lose the waterproofing of their plumage. If the ice breaks up too early, it can lead to the death of the birds.

Population modeling shows that without sharp and deep reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, emperor penguin numbers will decline rapidly throughout the current century.

«The reclassification of the emperor penguin to an endangered species is a serious warning: climate change is accelerating the extinction crisis before our eyes. Governments must act now to urgently decarbonize our economies,» states Martin Harper, Executive Director of BirdLife International.

Rising Ocean Temperatures Reduce Food Base for Antarctic Fur Seals

The Antarctic fur seal has been moved from the "least concern" category to "endangered" in the IUCN Red List. Its population has declined by more than 50 percent: from an estimated 2,187,000 mature individuals in 1999 to 944,000 in 2025.

According to IUCN data, the population decline is linked to rising ocean temperatures and reduced sea ice area. This forces krill to move to greater depths in search of colder water, depriving the seals of food. The scarcity of food near the coast of South Georgia has led to a sharp decrease in pup survival, causing the population to age rapidly.

Avian Flu Threatens Elephant Seals

The Southern Elephant Seal has also been reclassified: in the IUCN Red List, it has been moved from the "least concern" category to "vulnerable" following outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI).

Since 2020, the virus has spread to mammals. The disease has affected four out of five major sub-populations. In some colonies, it has claimed the lives of over 90 percent of newborn pups and severely impacted adult females.

There is growing concern that as global warming progresses, mortality among marine mammals due to diseases will increase, especially in polar regions where animals previously had little exposure to such pathogens.

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