World's largest penguin colony hit by 'alarming' decline in numbers
A study reveals that the chinstrap penguin population on Zavodovski Island has declined by 63% since 2011. Scientists attribute this alarming drop to climate change affecting food availability, suggesting the species may now be endangered.
Why it matters
The decline of a major colony on a remote island serves as a critical indicator of the broader impacts of climate change on Antarctic ecosystems.
Image source, British Antarctic Survey Image caption, Chinstrap penguins get their name from a thin ring of feathers from ear to ear
Almost two-thirds of the population of chinstrap penguins have disappeared from a remote volcanic island near Antarctica, aerial surveys suggest.
Zavodovski Island was home to the largest penguin colony in the world, but researchers who carried out the surveys say it has now lost that accolade.
According to the study, there were 63% fewer occuplied nests of chinstrap penguins in 2025 than at the same time in 2011.
The research team say climate change is affecting the birds' food supply and survival, and the penguins may now be officially endangered.
Another species of penguin, the macaroni, also nests on the island and is thriving, which scientists believe is linked to their more varied diet.
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