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World's largest chinstrap penguin colony hit by alarming decline due to climate change
Overview
Aerial surveys and research by the British Antarctic Survey reveal that the chinstrap penguin population on Zavodovski Island, formerly the world's largest penguin colony, has dropped by 63% between 2011 and 2025. Researchers attribute the decline to climate-driven ocean warming that has shifted the penguins' krill food supply southwards. In contrast, macaroni penguins on the same island have thrived due to a more varied and adaptable diet.
Key points
- Chinstrap penguin nests on Zavodovski Island decreased by 63% between 2011 and 2025.
- The decline is linked to climate change, rising ocean temperatures, and the resulting southward shift of krill.
- Chinstrap penguins have a specialist diet and preference for cooler waters, making them vulnerable compared to adaptable species.
- Macaroni penguins nesting on the same island have increased in number due to a broader, more flexible diet in warmer waters.
- The world's largest penguin colony title has now shifted to Cape Adare in the Ross Sea.