Millions of years ago, penguins liked it hot. Some of the oldest penguin fossils ever found were near the tropical equator, dating back to the warmest period during the past 65 million years. Of course, these penguins also stood as high as five-feet tall, so penguins have evolved quite a bit since then.
Of the 17 penguin species alive today, only two of them live in tropical climates. But as the world warms up, it's the four species found on Antarctica that are threatened most by rising temperatures.
The Emperor, Adelie, Chinstrap and Gentoo penguins all eat krill, a shrimp-like creature that feeds on algae underneath the ice. Every year, ice is forming later, melting sooner and covering a smaller area. The less ice, the less algae. The less algae, the fewer krill. The fewer krill, the fewer penguins.
And unlike the Adelie, Chinstrap and Gentoo penguins that breed on land, the Emperor - of March of the Penguins fame - breeds on the ice. The thinner the ice gets, the more easily it breaks apart, subjecting the Emperor to stronger winds that are blowing eggs and chicks out to sea.
If you want to help Antarctic penguins survive global warming, Adopt a Penguin through WWF, the world's leader in wildlife conservation and preservation of animal habitats. Your gift will support WWF's work in calling on world leaders to:
- Within 2 years, initiate action that truly will reverse climate change factors
- Cut emissions of industrialized countries 30 percent by 2020
- Bring developing countries (like China) on board
Click the following links to read WWF's report "Antarctic Penguins and Climate Change" and to Adopt a Penguin today.
Source: BecauseAction.com
