The classic tuxedo-ed penguins found in Antarctica known as the Adelie penguins may be facing extinction according to some reports. The rapid drop of the numbers of penguins was caused by the crashing of a giant iceberg which blocked the penguin's easiest access to food.
The iceberg known as B09B iceberg crashed back in 2010. With an area of about 1,120 square miles or 2,900 square kilometres, the penguins are forced to walk almost 37 miles (60 kilometers) just so they could access their food. Because of the iceberg, countless penguins have died from starvation.
Some scientists claim that if the iceberg doesn't move anytime soon or if the penguins continue to starve to the point of having no energy to reproduce, in twenty years time the Adeline penguins would no longer exist.
According to Chris Fogwill, a co-author of the study, a lot of penguin casualties have been recorded and most of them are bodies of the young.
"We saw a lot of dead carcasses, particularly the young, which was terrible to see. But the really important thing is that the penguins are just not coming back to that area," explained Fogwill.
Scientists are hoping that the penguins would find a feeding ground that is closer to them in for their species to survive.
Professor Chris Turney of the University of New South Wales, one of the report's authors, explained during an interview that it is still uncertain if the BO9B would eventually move however the only chance that the penguins would not face extinction is if the iceberg unblocks their passage going to their feeding grounds.
"Unless the B09B relocates or the now perennial fast ice within the bay breaks out the Adélie penguin colony of Cape Denison could be no more in two decades time" quipped the professor.