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Penguins: surviving in a melting landscape

There are a number of penguin species on the Antarctic continent. Perhaps the most famous are the Emperor Penguins, standing over 1m high. Ever since the first explorers reached the Antarctic, they have been the subject of human fascination and study.

Photograph by Felipe O. Arruda www.viajandonaviaje.com

The Scott Polar Research Institute in Cambridge includes, within its collection, the small white egg of an Adelie Penguin which was brought back by survivors from Scott’s Terra Nova expedition. One of the expedition members was George Murray Levick who studied their social habits at Cape Adare.

Adélie Penguins on the ice-foot at Cape Adare in the Antarctic. Photo taken in 1911 or 1912 by George Murray Levick, a member of Robert Scott’s Terra Nova Expedition.

All these species are impacted by global warming, climate change and pollutants in the oceans. This story links to some of the work being undertaken to help our understanding and raise awareness of the environmental challenges penguins in the Antarctic currently face.

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