Protecting Antarctic Penguins: A Team’s Effort Against the Climate Crisis

Natacha Planque and her team are at the forefront of protecting emperor and Adélie penguins in Antarctica, studying how the climate crisis is affecting their survival. Working in temperatures as low as -50°C and battling fierce winds of over 100km per hour, Planque monitors penguin populations on the Pointe Géologie archipelago, in order to protect these antarctic penguins against environmental challanges.

Planque and her team, based at the Dumont d’Urville (DDU) Station, collaborate with organisations like the Centre d’Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, Institut Polaire Français, and WWF. Each year, they survey 25 islands by helicopter and on foot to track penguin numbers. In 2024, the team counted 38,000 nesting Adélie penguin couples and 34,000 chicks—a significant increase in this region since 1985. However, across the Antarctic Peninsula, Adélie populations have plummeted by 65% in the last 25 years due to climate change.

The loss of sea ice, vital for krill (penguins’ main food source), and warmer temperatures affecting egg hatching times have made survival harder for both Adélie and emperor penguins. In recent years, emperor penguins have suffered mass breeding failures. Despite these stark statistics, Planque finds inspiration in the penguins’ resilience. “Seeing these iconic birds marching through the wilderness fills me with wonder,” she says.

Monitoring reproductive success is a crucial part of the work. In 2024, Planque collected and analysed 100 emperor penguin eggs that failed to hatch, studying how environmental conditions may have impacted them. For the chicks that do survive, life remains precarious. “In August, chicks leave their brood pouch and run through the colony,” she explains. “Parents scramble after them, trying not to lose them. Sadly, some adult penguins return from the sea to find their chicks gone.”

Driven by instinct, chick-less adults sometimes try to adopt or steal another chick, often unsuccessfully. “More than 20 adults can be seen trying to take one chick,” Planque shares. “Sometimes they succeed, but it’s rare that they can keep it alive.”

Planque’s team uses tracking devices, or pit-tags, to monitor 300 emperor penguin chicks annually, gathering invaluable data with minimal disturbance. One key winter task involves keeping detection antennas operational. “I never imagined I’d be digging ice with an axe to install antennas,” she says.

Despite the freezing conditions and challenging work, Planque treasures her time in Antarctica. “At the end of March, when the sea ice forms, I watch the emperors wait for it to solidify before crossing. It’s incredible to see these animals against such a dramatic landscape. Sure, my hands get painfully cold holding binoculars, but it’s all worth it.”

While the numbers paint a sobering picture of the challenges penguins face, the dedicated work of Planque and her team offers hope for their future.

Discover how the WWF is supporting Antarctic wildlife conservation on their official website.

For more inspiring stories on wildlife conservation and updates on climate research, visit EyeOnLondon. Stay informed and inspired to make a difference.

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