Emperor penguins could be in danger of extinction in 'foreseeable future,' officials say

One of the most famous Antarctic species could be battling extinction in the next century, wildlife officials say, as the emperor penguin was given the threatened species status under the Endangered Species Act by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Tuesday, with climate change listed as a primary cause.

The largest penguin species in the world, the white bellied, orange-marked flightless birds inhabit much of Antarctica, with 61 known breeding colonies in the continent, according to the service.

Even though the emperor penguin population has remained relatively stable, with an estimated 625,000-650,000 birds around today, wildlife officials say a significant portion of the species’ population “is in danger of extinction in the foreseeable future.”