World's second largest emperor penguin colony 'disappeared overnight' with thousands of chicks wiped

https://www.independent.co.uk/environment/emperor-penguins-deaths-sea-ice-collapse-climate-change-antarctic-a8885641.html

Thousands of chicks drowned when an ice shelf in Antartica collapsed

By Harry Cockburn 4/25

The world’s second largest emperor penguin colony is believed to have been effectively wiped out overnight, with thousands of chicks drowning when an ice shelf in Antarctica collapsed.

Since the catastrophic collapse of the ice sheet at Halley Bay in 2016, no breeding has been detected in the area, scientists say.

Usually 15,000 to 24,000 breeding pairs of emperor penguins flock each year to the breeding site – around 5-9 per cent of the entire global emperor penguin population.

The bay in the Weddell Sea was previously considered a refuge for penguins in one of the coldest parts of the continent and which was expected to remain suitable for penguins this century despite climate change affecting Antarctic sea ice.

..more..

6 replies, 1013 views

Thread info Bookmark this thread Trash this thread

Reply to this thread

Always highlight: 10 newest replies | Replies posted after I mark a forum

Replies to this discussion thread

6 replies	Author	Time	Post
World's second largest emperor penguin colony 'disappeared overnight' with thousands of chicks wiped (Original post)	G_j	Apr 2019	OP
Tragic beyond words. Many humans will join in the "Great Die Off" before long.	theophilus	Apr 2019	#1
we've got 25 years,	FirstLight	Apr 2019	#3
There is some good news in the article.	TheBlackAdder	Apr 2019	#2
So very sad. Poor babies.	sweetroxie	Apr 2019	#4
Earth has more rather than less of this type of mega-disaster not so far in the future.	PufPuf23	Apr 2019	#5
The film was traumatizing enough...now this. We are ruining the planet with our greed.	lindysalsagal	Apr 2019	#6

Response to G_j (Original post)

Thu Apr 25, 2019, 11:50 AM

theophilus (3,643 posts)

1. Tragic beyond words. Many humans will join in the "Great Die Off" before long.

As humans, many of us had a choice and chose to be bloated and comfortable. Many humans do not make that choice but they will suffer because of the choices of others. The Life on this planet will suffer as well.

Reply to this post

Response to theophilus (Reply #1)

Thu Apr 25, 2019, 12:49 PM

FirstLight (10,660 posts)

3. we've got 25 years,

My 16 yr old son came out of his room the other day and said that by 2045 we're essentially toast. The population will hit 8 billion and fresh water will be gone and the ice melt will have raised the sea level...

the planet will shed us like the vermin we are

Reply to this post

Response to G_j (Original post)

Thu Apr 25, 2019, 12:06 PM

TheBlackAdder (14,135 posts)

2. There is some good news in the article.

While the Halley Bay colony has now all but disappeared, the nearby Dawson-Lambton colony has markedly increased in size, indicating that many of the adult emperors have moved there, seeking better breeding grounds as environmental conditions continue to change.

The birds’ rapid relocation to a more stable breeding ground is significant and is encouraging, the scientists say, as until now it was not known whether the penguins would seek alternative sites in response to significant changes in their local environment.

Reply to this post

Response to G_j (Original post)

Thu Apr 25, 2019, 06:02 PM

sweetroxie (776 posts)