Climatic crisis threatens emperor penguins of Antarctica

The emperor penguins of Antarctica are set to receive new protections under the Endangered Species Act, or ESA. This is because the climate crisis is a threat to these flightless seabirds. Global warming results in melting of sea ice and the penguins depend on the sea ice for their survival. As a result, the US Fish and Wildlife Service has categorized the species as threatened. The federal agency lists “imperiled species as endangered or threatened regardless of their country of origin.” The latest announcement came more than a year after an initial proposal by the service to protect emperor penguins under the ESA. Emperor penguins depend on sea ice to form their breeding colonies, avoid predators in the ocean and forage for food. However, the temperature of the Earth is rising because of increase in emission of greenhouse gas and carbon dioxide. The sea ice is at risk of disappearing. When this happens, entire penguin colonies can decline or disappear. The presence of emperor penguins is important to maintain the ecological balance because they forage for krill, fish and squid in the sea and serve as prey for leopard seals and killer whales. Antarctica’s emperor penguins at risk of extinction due to the climate crisis. As an expert says - climate change is having a profound impact on species around the world and addressing it is a priority for the (Biden) Administration. The listing of the emperor penguin serves as an alarm bell but also a call to action.

Emperor penguins are the tallest and heaviest of the 18 penguin species. They can weigh up to 40 kilograms and stand 1.1 meters tall. A female emperor lays one egg per breeding season, then passes it over to her male partner to incubate while she forages for food for about a two-month period. Listing the species as threatened now could help save them from becoming endangered or extinct in the future. The polar bear was the first species listed as threatened due to climate change under the Endangered Species Act in 2008. Since then, many of the world’s polar bear populations have stabilized, but they remain vulnerable as the climate crisis continues.

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$10-million ad campaign of SeaWorld to rebuild its battered image

#seaworldorlando #blackfish #PETA #themepark #killerwhales With severe criticism of its methods of working in its whale-shows, and drop in attendance in recent times, SeaWorld Entertainment plans to go in for a $10 million image-building campaign that is expected to take the edge off criticism of its whale shows and, simultaneously, reverse a two-year drop in attendance.
As per information, the number of visitors fell to 4.4 million visitors from 4.5 million a year earlier.
This has been reported in nzherald.co.nz dared 24 March 2015.

Among the methods being considered are print ads and online videos that would showcase the veterinarians, researchers and others from the company's 1,500 animal-care experts. This is based on information furnished by the Orlando, Florida-based theme-park operator. These experts would undertake the task of explaining to the public that the company cares for its killer whales.
The ads would also, simultaneously, refute claims of animal-rights activists. PETA alleges that SeaWorld should not keep killer whales in captivity. In fact, PETA feels that whales in captivity have shorter lives as compared to those who live in the wild.
Moreover, the ad campaigns would also focus on other attractions of the park.
It may be recalled that in 2013, there was a documentary film "Blackfish" – it was about the death of a SeaWorld trainer. It had raised a number of issues about the care of orcas in captivity and their use in entertainment.

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