The Lost Emperor: A Colony of Penguins Disappears

LiveScience.com ^ | 3/7/11 | Wynne Parry

[NormsRevenge]

A small colony of emperor penguins on an island off the West Antarctic Peninsula is gone, and the most likely culprit is loss of sea ice caused by warming. Although it has been predicted that penguins could suffer greatly because of global warming, this is the first time the disappearance of a colony has been documented.

The researchers, however, caution that their study is hampered by a lack of long-term information on emperor penguins, both at this site and in general, and their environment.

Emperor penguins are regal, if bulky, birds that stand as high as 4 feet (1.2 meters) and can weigh as much as 84 pounds (38 kilograms). This colony, first spotted in 1948 on an island dubbed Emperor Island, was a small one that had approximately 150 breeding pairs.

Observations are spotty, but the populations appear to have been relatively stable until the 1970s. A report in 1978 showed a sharp drop in population, a trend that continued until an airplane survey found the island empty in 2009. ..

This raises the question: Did the penguins die off or just relocate? "That's one of the big unknowns," said Philip Trathan, the lead researcher and head of conservation biology at the British Antarctic Survey.

[NormsRevenge]

If you spot them, notify the local media first.

[Joe Brower]

"the most likely culprit is loss of sea ice caused by warming"

Sounds like they've already jumped to their preferred conclusion -- why even both investigating?

Of course, for all the real "science" being applied here, one might just as well hypothesize the penguins were kidnapped by space aliens.

[hsalaw]

The researchers, however, caution that their study is hampered by a lack of long-term information on emperor penguins, both at this site and in general, and their environment.

We don't need no stinkin' facts. It's ALWAYS global warming's fault.

[Red Badger]

Well, in the movie The Day the Earth Stood Still they were abducted by aliens.........

[Never on my watch]

They were delicious.

[NormsRevenge]

one of the snazzier formal dressers in the animal realm

[CholeraJoe]

Although it has been predicted that penguins could suffer greatly because of global warming, this is the first time the disappearance of a colony has been documented.

Not to worry, it will be Autumn in Antarctica in a couple of weeks. The ice will be back. In other news, ice melts in summer.

[Sopater]

Is it too late to issue an Amber alert?

[E. Pluribus Unum]

This raises the question: Did the penguins die off or just relocate? "That's one of the big unknowns," said Philip Trathan, the lead researcher and head of conservation biology at the British Antarctic Survey.

But let's presume the worst with zero data because that will get us more grant money.

[dblshot]

The researchers, however, caution that their study is hampered by a lack of long-term information on emperor penguins, both at this site and in general, and their environment. Not to mention that they all look alike so if they went to visit their cousins who would know.

[NormsRevenge]

[taillightchaser]

“They were delicious”
Congrats, you win the post of the week!!!! I’m still drying my keyboard.

[CholeraJoe]

Penguins are in the middle of the food chain.

[mreerm]

i thought the AGW poster child was the Polar Bear.

that must not have panned out...

[gov_bean_ counter]

Or they could have waddled across the Mexican border and the US wouldn’t be the wiser...

[Starstruck]

They went to Madagascar...............I got Grandchildren.

[hinckley buzzard]

Do penguins have any natural enemies down there? I think they just got bored on their little island and swam to the peninsula for some action.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

A small colony of emperor penguins on an island off the West Antarctic Peninsula is gone, and the most likely culprit is loss of sea ice caused by warming.

What warming?

[dfwgator]

"Doo bee doo bee dooo."