Approximately 150,000 penguins have disappeared in Antarctica after a huge iceberg cut off their access to food in the ocean. Eastern Antarctica used to be home to thousands and thousands of Adelie penguins, since it was a place where they could easily hunt for fish and thrive. Now, with a humongous iceberg in the way, the penguins must walk 35 miles through blizzard and ice to find a new source of food. Scientists predict that the Adelie penguin could be extinct within twenty years.

The Adelie penguin is not the only species of penguin we should be worried about. Climate change on our Earth is a big concern for both Adelie and Emperor penguins in Antarctica. Ice and fish are what these species of bird depend on and with the growing warmth, both of these resources are beginning to disappear little by little. In 2008 WWF conducted a study that discovered 50% of emperor penguins and 75% of Adelie penguins will die off. Overfishing by humans also causes a threat to penguins, since it causes a decline in their food source. Some penguins also get caught in fishing nets. This will likely lead to even more decline in population unless we hold back on the amount of fish we are fishing from the Antarctic ocean. The original population of Adelie penguins has already shrunk to only 10,000. Emperor penguins are also threatened by the melting environment, which is caused by greenhouse gases and pollution.

Even with conservation efforts, the populations of the penguins of Antarctica are still drastically declining. In order to keep these swimming birds from becoming extinct, we need to make an effort to save them. Oil spills and contaminants can quickly kill penguins. Littering may not seem like a big deal, but over time it eventually gets into the ocean and ruins ecosystems. Just by doing little things everyday such as diminishing our use of poisonous resources, we can all work together to save the penguins of Antarctica, and Antarctica itself.