Science
World's largest penguin colony loses its title as chinstrap nests fall 63%
October 7, 2026 at 03:36 PM
Coverage
3 reports
TGThe Guardian
World’s largest penguin colony suffers ‘enormous population crash’
(opens the publisher’s site)
CNCNN
This island was home to the planet’s largest penguin colony. Here’s why it just lost that title
(opens the publisher’s site)
BNBBC News
World's largest penguin colony hit by 'alarming' decline in numbers
(opens the publisher’s site)Research published Wednesday in the journal Current Biology found Zavodovski Island's chinstrap penguin population fell by more than half a million birds since 2011.
- Surveys found occupied chinstrap nests on Zavodovski Island fell 63 percent between 2011 and 2025, ending its status as the world's largest penguin colony.
- Lead researcher Norman Ratcliffe attributed the loss to climate warming that drives the penguins' krill food source southward beyond their reach.
- Macaroni penguins on the island increased 28 percent between 2011 and 2016 and have since stayed stable, researchers said.
- Researchers said the declines could move chinstraps onto the IUCN Red List's endangered category, up from their current least concern listing.
- Researchers ruled out volcanic eruption and competition among penguin species as major causes of the decline.