Hundreds of emperor penguin chicks have miraculously survived after an iceberg calved, causing thousands of chicks to be separated from their mothers.
An Antarctic ice shelf as large as the Isle of Wight fractured to form a new iceberg four months ago, separating newborn penguins from their parents, who were hunting for fish at the time.
Scientists believed the chicks had met an unfortunate end, but satellite images have confirmed that many of them have survived.
Peter Fretwell, from the British Antarctic Service (BAS), told The Mail on Sunday that the penguin chicks had “dodged a bullet”.
“We don’t know how they did it,” he said. “They had been very unlucky, so I was very relieved when they showed up on the satellite image and looked reasonably healthy.”
Hundreds of emperor penguin chicks have miraculously survived after an iceberg calved, causing thousands of chicks to be separated from their mothers.
An Antarctic ice shelf as large as the Isle of Wight fractured to form a new iceberg four months ago, separating newborn penguins from their parents.
Until now, his team had not been able to confirm whether the colony (whether adults or chicks) had survived the ice breakup, but satellite images have confirmed that many of them have survived.
In 2019, British Antarctic Survey scientists discovered a “catastrophic” three-year decline in breeding within the once-important penguin colony that was already posing a threat to its future.
Until now, his team was unable to confirm whether the colony (either adults or chicks) had survived the ice breakup, with image quality reduced due to the six months of darkness that occur during Antarctic winters.
But footage shows the chicks teetering on the edge of the ice shelf and Fretwell warned they are “not out of the woods yet.”
“Twenty years ago, a similar ice shelf caused a lot of problems,” he said. ‘We cannot say with certainty whether they will survive. The adults should do it, but it’s not hopeful for the chicks, as a big storm would wipe out the rest.’
In 2019, BAS scientists discovered a “catastrophic” three-year decline in reproduction within the once important colony, already posing a threat to its future.
Now, Mr Fretwell said, “with the ice sheet broken, the chicks are exposed to the ocean, which means they are in a fragile position.” Early sea ice breakup is occurring more frequently each year, but for now it is an ongoing story.’
Having endured many dangers and near deaths, the surviving emperor penguin chicks now need to hold on to the remaining sea ice until December, when they will be strong enough to swim away.
