March of the

As the world warms, animals adapted to cool climates, such as penguins, may be affected. The Straits Times looks at two such species.

120cm Exclusive to Penguins found in 100 the Antarctic and sub-Antarctic* regions 80

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0 Emperor King Gentoo Chinstrap Adelie Royal Macaroni Rockhopper Note: *Sub Antarctic islands are land masses north of the Antarctic region.

Bright orange-red bill Gentoo White stripe (Pygoscelis papua) running eye-to-eye Height: 75cm across the top Weight: 5.5kg of the head Response to Life span: 15-20 years climate change Conservation status: Least concerned • Gentoo penguins can be found on Short, stiff the Antarctic wings for “ying” peninsula and on underwater in the sub-Antarctic search of food islands. like sh and krill • Mr Gerard Baker, a polar historian who has worked in Antarctica for over Speed Gentoo penguins are the fastest two decades, said swimmers among all penguins, gentoo penguins may reaching speeds of up to 36kmh be expanding southwards as the world warms. • The Australian Antarctic Division also noted that gentoo populations may be increasing in their southern range, especially around the Antarctic Peninsula. The long tail is the most prominent one of all penguin species

Penguins’ nests are often stained red from their discharge, Waterproof coat of feathers coloured are kept well-oiled using oil from the krill Pale whitish-pink from a special gland at the they feed on. webbed feet base of its tail.

White ring Adelie penguin surrounding (Pygoscelis adeliae) Feathers at the the eye base of the red bill, Height: 70cm hiding most of it. Weight: 3.8-5.5kg Life span: 11-20 years Response to Conservation status: Least concerned climate change • Of the 18 penguin species, the Adelie Jumping ability penguin is one of They are able to leap only two true 2-3m out of the water Antarctic species to land on rocks or ice. that make the Antarctic continent their home. • The breeding colonies are The tail is a distributed around the little longer coastline of the Antarctic than other land and ocean. penguins’ tails • Scienti c research shows that colonies of Adelie penguins exposed to novel conditions due to warming seas were found to be declining or to have an unknown trend.

Range and breeding SOUTH grounds AMERICA Atlantic Ocean Gentoo penguin range

Pacific Gentoo penguin Ocean ARGENTINA breeding grounds May be expanding AFRICA southwards. Antarctic Peninsula Adelie penguin range

Adelie penguin breeding grounds South Pole Colonies experiencing Indian new conditions due to Ocean warming seas found to ANTARCTICA be declining or have an unknown trend.

Sources: THE INTERNATIONAL UNION FOR CONSERVATION OF NATURE, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC, PHOTOS: ASHLEIGH SIM, REUTERS BRITISH ANTARCTIC SURVEY, AUSTRALIAN ANTARCTIC DIVISION, GERARD BAKER, BBC, TELEGRAPH STRAITS TIMES GRAPHICS