Antarctic Penguins

Ice-loving polar penguins thrive in the coldest, windiest environment on the planet.

They feed primarily on small crustaceans called Antarctic krill.

Read on to learn more about polar penguins.

Emperor Penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri)

Emperor penguins are the largest penguins on earth, and the only penguin species to breed on the ice. They spend all of their lives in the Antarctic, and are the deepest-diving bird on the planet.

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Adélie Penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae)

Adélie penguins live and breed exclusively in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean. A member of the brush-tailed family of penguins, they nest on rocky beaches, building nests out of pebbles.

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Gentoo Penguin
(Pygoscelis papua)

Common across the subantarctic and Antarctic Peninsula, gentoo penguins are the fastest-swimming penguin on the planet. They are a member of the brush-tailed penguin family, and are closely related to Adélie and chinstrap penguins.

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Chinstrap Penguin
(Pygoscelis Antarcticus)

Chinstrap penguins are most commonly found on subantarctic islands, although some colonies can be found on rocky Antarctic beaches. Their key identifying feature is the distinctive black line under their chin, which earns them their name.

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Two macaroni penguins in a breeding colony.

Macaroni Penguin (Eudyptes chrysolophus)

Macaroni penguins are a member of the crested penguin family. They may be the most populous penguin species on the planet, however, their numbers are declining and their conservation status is listed as ‘vulnerable’.

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Rockhopper Penguin
(Eudyptes chrysocome)

The southern rockhopper penguin is the smallest penguin in the genus Eudyptes. They can be identified by their pale yellow crests and distinctive red eyes.

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King Penguin
(Aptenodytes patagonicus)

King penguins are the second-largest penguins on the planet. They closely resemble emperor penguins, but they are rarely found in the Antarctic. Instead, they live and breed on subantarctic islands.

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Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR)

Adopted in 1980, CCAMLR is an international commission responsible for the conservation of ‘living marine resources’ in the Southern Ocean.

With 27 Member nations and an additional 10 countries acceding to the Convention, CCAMLR is charged with making decisions on fisheries regulation in the Southern Ocean.

According to the Convention, these decisions must be informed by a precautionary, ecosystem-based approach, with conservation as the primary goal.

This is important for penguins as their primary food source, Antarctic krill, is a popular target for fisheries.

CCAMLR’s role in ensuring the conservation of Antarctic krill, crustaceans, and small fish is vital to the survival of penguin populations in the Southern Ocean.

Learn more about CCAMLR.

Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty

The Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty (also known as the Madrid Protocol, or simply the Protocol) is an international legal commitment to protect the Antarctic.

Agreed to in 1991 and entered into force in 1998, the Protocol is responsible for securing Antarctica’s status as the greatest shared, protected wilderness on our planet.

The main purpose of the Protocol is to ensure that environmental protection is central to the planning and conduct of all activities in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean. It identifies the Antarctic environment as a wilderness with intrinsic aesthetic and scientific value, which must be a “fundamental consideration” of all activities in the area.

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Marine protected areas

Marine protected areas (MPAs) are scientifically proven to be the most effective way to limit damage caused by human activities and support vibrant and healthy ocean ecosystems.

By creating large zones where certain activities are restricted or prevented, MPAs can reduce stress on the ocean and its ecosystems, helping them build resilience to climate change.

If adopted, proposed MPAs in East Antarctica and the Antarctic Peninsula will provide vital protection for penguin breeding and feeding habitats.

Despite overwhelming scientific evidence to support the establishment of new Antarctic marine protected areas, only 5% of the Southern Ocean has been protected.

ASOC advocates strongly for a representative network of MPAs in the Southern Ocean, starting with existing proposals in East Antarctica, the Weddell Sea, and the Antarctic Peninsula.

Learn more about our ongoing campaign for Antarctic Marine Protected Areas.

Read ASOC policy papers and reports to the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR).

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International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)

The IUCN is a network of more than 1,300 members including international governments, non-governmental organizations, scientific institutions, and Indigenous communities.

IUCN projects help protect penguins and their habitats through their actions in the areas of climate change, ecosystem management, international ocean governance, and marine protected areas.

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“We have seen multiple breeding failures for Adélie penguin colonies, habitat loss throughout the region, a concentrated krill fishing effort, and the warmest Southern Ocean temperatures ever recorded. Scientists have been clear that MPAs are needed to make a warming and acidifying ocean more resilient.”
Andrea Kavanagh, Director of Antarctic and Southern Ocean work at The Pew Charitable Trusts