Emperor Penguins Are Protected Under the Endangered Species Act

The emperor penguins have been listed as a threatened species because of the decreasing sea ice habitat. 99% of the world's emperor penguin population will disappear by the year 2200, according to experts.

The penguins spend a lot of time on the sea ice in the South Pole. The ice is breaking apart due to the heat-trapping gases released by humans. The ice is where the animals breed, raise their babies and escape danger.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, a species could face extinction. A species is likely to become extinct in the next few years. There are between 625,000 and 650,000 emperor penguins in the wild.

Martha Williams said that the listing reflected the growing extinction crisis.

Ms. Williams said that climate change is a priority for the administration. The listing of the emperor penguin is a call to action.

The penguins are one of a number of species that the federal government considers threatened by climate change.

According to a news release from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, the world's strongest environmental law is intended to prevent extinction and foster the recovery of at-risk species. Although the species is not found in the United States, federal agencies must now ensure that their projects do not endanger the penguin or the environment because of the act.

"Emperor penguins face a very uncertain future, which is dependent on people working together to reduce carbon pollution." Only together can penguins brave the harshest climate on earth and only together can we face a difficult climate future.

More than a decade has passed since the Center for Biological Diversity petitioned the Fish and Wildlife Service to protect the emperor penguin. The agency agreed that the animal may be in danger due to climate change, but did not act. The center sued the administration for not acting on the petition.

The emperor penguin is the tallest of the 18 penguins. The Adélie, a medium-sized penguin with a white ring around its eyes, is the only penguin native to the area. Emperor penguins are an important part of the food chain, in which they prey upon squid and small fish, as well as larger predator like the leopard seal and killer whale.

Both parents have a role to play in caring for their children. After laying an egg, females hunt while males cover it in a feathered pouch. The parents care for the chick after it hatch. Young penguins that don't develop their adult feathers before the sea ice is gone will die.

Emperor penguins aren't very good on land. Warming weather and high winds make them vulnerable to climbing icy cliffs. Heavy winds and record-low sea ice caused the loss of more than 10,000 baby birds in the second largest colony of the birds in the world.

Amanda Holpuch was a contributor.