Government lists them as “threatened” due to climate change.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced this week that the Emperor Penguin will now receive protection under the Endangered Species Act. The penguin will be listed as a “threatened” species. Fish and Wildlife said “climate change on sea-ice habitat” was the “primary threat to the penguin.”
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, “endangered” species face the threat of extinction, whereas “threatened” species are likely to become endangered in the near future.
There are currently about 61 breeding colonies along Antarctica’s coastlines with a general population of 625,000 to 650,000 birds, according to Fish and Wildlife. However, the agency estimates that the population will drop by 26% to 47% by 2050 due to “low and high carbon emissions scenarios, respectively.”
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For Director Martha Williams as she heads the Fish and Wildlife Service.
- For Secretary Haaland as she oversees the agencies within the Interior Department.
- For wisdom for U.S. officials and wildlife experts as they assess the dangers to various species.
Sources: Axios, NY Times
