Global warming threatens penguins in Antarctica

The latest study by World Wildlife Fund (WWF) showed that penguins in Antarctica could be in serious trouble in years to come. According to this study between half to three-quarters of major Antarctic penguin colonies could be paying with their lives if global temperatures are allowed to climb by more than two degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit).

Penguins that live in Antarctica are the most famous of all penguin species, and so far they haven't shared the destiny of other 12 penguin species considered "at risk" or "endangered" but if global warming trend continues the number will soon rise to 13.

Two degrees Celsius higher temperature would be enough to threaten 50 per cent of breeding grounds of emperor penguins, and 75 per cent of Adelie penguin colonies. Experts say that global warming already caused reduction in penguin population but what is now only reduction could soon become serious threat to penguins survival.

According to scientists a two-degree Celsius increase above pre-industrial temperatures is considered as the threshold beyond which climate change will have severe consequences for all Earth's ecosystems, especially the ones in Antarctica and other areas of extreme cold conditions where species have managed to adapt so well to these extreme conditions. Two degrees Celsius maybe doesn't seem as the big jump in temperature but it could mean the difference between life and death for many penguins on Antarctica.

Two degrees Celsius could mean the difference between life and death for many penguins on Antarctica.