World Penguin Day, celebrated on April 25th, promotes the preservation of these flightless birds and their environments.
According to the Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition (ASOC), 25th April marks the yearly northern migration of Adélie penguins in Antarctica.
Background:
- World Penguin Day was founded at McMurdo Station, an American research facility on Ross Island, Antarctica, after researchers observed that Adélie penguins begin their annual migration around April 25th.
- The migration pattern of penguins piqued the curiosity of researchers, resulting in the annual World Penguin Day on April 25th.
- In 2020, the Adélie penguin was classified as Least Concern on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species.
Additional Information:
Penguin Awareness Day is held annually on January 20th around the world. The day aims to raise awareness about penguins and their survival challenges.
About Penguins:
- Penguins are aquatic, flightless birds from the Spheniscidae family that primarily inhabit the southern hemisphere.
- The IUCN Red List lists 11 of the 18 penguin species as Globally Threatened.
- Penguins are threatened by climate change, habitat loss, and overfishing.
- All 18 types of penguins are officially protected from hunting and egg collection.
The Antarctic Treaty, agreed in 1959 and reauthorized in 1991, protects Antarctica and its resources by making it unlawful to harm penguins or their eggs.
Permits from the Scientific Committee for Antarctic Research (SCAR) are required to collect penguin specimens.
The 1973 Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) governs the trading of wildlife, including penguins.