Conservation & Threats

What are the biggest threats to penguins?

The biggest threats to penguins are climate change, overfishing, pollution, and habitat destruction. Climate change reduces sea ice that Antarctic species depend on for breeding and alters ocean temperatures and currents that drive prey availability. Overfishing of sardines, anchovies, and krill directly reduces the food supply for species like African and Humboldt penguins. Oil spills are devastating — even a small amount of oil destroys the waterproofing of penguin feathers, leading to hypothermia. Introduced predators such as rats, cats, and stoats on breeding islands are a major problem for species like the yellow-eyed penguin.