Penguin Conservation

Penguins are flightless birds that live mostly in the Southern Hemisphere. There are 18 species of penguins, and many of them are in trouble. Warming oceans, overfishing, and oil spills threaten their survival. Conservation efforts are helping protect penguins and the ocean habitats they need.

Penguins at Risk

As ocean temperatures rise, the fish and krill that penguins eat move to different areas. This makes it harder for penguins to find food for themselves and their chicks. Oil spills coat their feathers and make it hard for them to swim and stay warm. Overfishing also takes away their food supply.

Protecting Penguins

Marine protected areas help keep penguin feeding grounds safe from overfishing. When oil spills happen, rescue teams clean penguins and nurse them back to health. Scientists study penguin colonies to understand what they need. Some penguin species, like the African penguin, have breeding programs to boost their numbers.

Fun Facts

• Emperor penguins can dive deeper than 1,800 feet and hold their breath for more than 20 minutes!
• The smallest penguin species is the little blue penguin, which stands only about 13 inches tall.
• Penguins cannot fly through the air, but they are excellent underwater swimmers.

Did You Know?

During an oil spill in South Africa, volunteers knitted tiny sweaters for African penguins to keep them warm and stop them from swallowing oil while preening!