Latest news with #penguins
Yahoo
a day ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Sea ice loss risks more icebergs, threatens wildlife
Extreme sea ice loss in Antarctica over the past few years is leading to higher ocean temperatures, more icebergs and habitat dangers for penguins. The oceans surrounding the southern continent have already been trending warmer than average and researchers say the ongoing loss of sea ice is contributing as dark water absorbs more sunlight without a reflective frozen barrier. Species like the Crabeater seal and Adelie penguin rely on sea ice for habitat, with the latter reliant on large chunks during their "catastrophic moult" period when they need to stay dry for weeks at a time. Less sea ice will make it harder for the penguins to find a suitable spot to shed their feathers, leaving them more exposed to predators. Tougher conditions for ships supplying Antarctic missions are also a problem with low ice coverage, the international study led by Australian Antarctic Program Partnership researchers has found. Really low summer sea ice is also associated with more icebergs breaking away from the coastline. Years with the least summer sea ice have produced more than twice as many icebergs as the years with the most summer sea ice. Lead author of the study, the AAPP's Edward Doddridge, said up until about 2015, sea ice was around average or even a bit above. "But since 2016 it has been consistently low, and the last few years have been extraordinarily low," he said during a media briefing. The wide-ranging study into the consequences of sea ice loss lands as uncertainty clouds the future of global climate science under the Trump administration. Dr Doddridge said the US Department of Defense planned to stop sharing its global sea ice coverage satellite data with the international community. The uncertainty was "deeply concerning", the sea ice scientist said, but other country's satellites would continue to supply some information. Other Australian-based climate researchers have been alert to risks hanging over earth observation data and climate modelling, given the US has traditionally played a major role. Christian Jakob, director of the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for 21st Century Weather, was worried about the growing possibility of losing access to the satellite data that was key to global cloud coverage research. Cloud cover shrinkage is thought to be contributing to unexpectedly fast warming. "If those satellites were not renewed, if there were no successors to these satellite missions, then some of the information we have will disappear," Professor Jakob told AAP. Research into the impacts of sea ice loss highlights a number of knowledge gaps but report co-author Will Hobbs, also from the University of Tasmania's AAPP, said the findings supported a rapid transition to net zero. "Climate projections indicate that continued greenhouse gas emissions will accelerate the changes in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean that we're already seeing, and exacerbate the far-reaching negative impacts of sea-ice loss," Dr Hobbs said.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Yahoo
Five quirky stories you missed as clubber admits sausage incident
A reveller who confessed to bringing a giant sausage into a nightclub features in one of our five bizarre local news stories you may have missed this week. Coventry Live reported that the sausage caused confusion among clubbers when it was spotted in the 147 venue on Far Gosford Street in the city. Elsewhere, a zoo in the North West has come up with a novel way to tell two penguin chicks apart, while a bricklaying robot is being used to build homes in the North East. You can read the full version of each of our selected articles through the links under each story – or read more top headlines from around the UK's regions on the Yahoo UK local news page. The clubber responsible for this weekend's "SausageGate" incident at a Coventry nightclub has come forward. The individual, who wishes to remain anonymous, has told how a disappointing result playing bingo led to her and a pal making an impulse purchase of the 'big fella' on their way into city hotspot 147 on Far Gosford Street. Photos and videos captured on Saturday night showed revellers posing and playing with a giant red sausage in the packed club. Its presence was then discovered after staff found it discarded come clean up time on Sunday morning. Read the full story from Coventry Live At Blackpool Zoo, zookeepers have had to come up with a creative way to tell their penguins apart. To help monitor their new fluffy arrivals at Penguin Cove, keepers have adopted a 'penguin pedicure' solution. They have painted blue nail varnish on the toes of one chick from each pair in a nest box. This is to ensure they can accurately record health checks, weight and developmental progress. Read the full story from Lancashire Live A stolen Henry Hoover has been returned to a care home after it was stolen from the cleaning cupboard. CCTV footage at Oakley Court, a retirement home on Southampton Road in Ringwood, showed an unknown man stealing the famous vacuum cleaner. The footage helped Hampshire police officers uncover the registration of the vehicle used in the theft. A 47-year-old man was subsequently interviewed and admitted to the theft. Read the full story from the Daily Echo An Isle of Wight couple who eloped to Scotland on a Triumph motorbike in defiance of the bride's parents — and then spent three weeks hiding out in a caravan — are celebrating their 70th wedding anniversary. Syd and Jane (Hazel) Shawyer, from Binstead, ran away to Dumfries in May 1955 to tie the knot. Jane was only 17, and without her parents' permission, would have had to wait until she was 21 to marry in England. Read the full story from the Isle of Wight County Press A bricklaying robot in County Durham is laying the foundations for a new era in housebuilding. Known as WLTR or "Walter", the wall-laying robot is constructing 27 homes in Durham as part of a scheme led by JT Lifestyle Homes. The developer says the robot, developed in the Czech Republic in partnership with GreenBuild, is helping address the shortage of bricklayers across the UK. Read the full story from the Northern Echo
BBC News
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Bournemouth's penguin pair to celebrate 10-year anniversary
Love is in the air for two male penguins who are about to celebrate their 10th anniversary and Zorro first locked eyes at Bournemouth Oceanarium's penguin beach in July attraction specialises in rehoming the birds and partners with conservation programmes to help endangered pair are Humboldt penguins which is a declining and vulnerable species native to South America. In a colony, they are less likely to "mate for life" and are generally only monogamous during breeding season, the oceanarium that was not the case for Diego and Zorro, as penguin keeper Amber Cookson noticed a spark between them soon after they said they were showing "courting behaviour which grew into this wonderful, long-standing partnership"."The penguins are free to choose who they want to spend quality time with and in their case, they chose each other," she said. The couple live in a custom-built enclosure that was designed to replicate the birds' natural has a deep pool, beach, rockery and nesting boxes where the colony can play, fish, and dive. More "couple time" is on the cards for Diego and Zorro as their last foster chicks have left the Cookson said they are not showing any signs of "empty nest" syndrome just yet."Diego and Zorro are such fantastic foster parents, and over the years they've dedicated huge amounts of care and attention to rearing their babies," she said."It's particularly fitting that it's now, during Pride Month, when they've got more time to invest in their own relationship and celebrate their bond."The oceanarium hopes the couple will help them rear more of Humboldt penguin species. You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X, or Instagram.
BBC News
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Blackpool Zoo gives penguins pedicures to stop mix-ups
A zoo has given its penguin chicks a "delightful pedicure" as a "creative and colourful" way of telling them chick from each pair of newborn Magellanic penguins at Blackpool Zoo has had blue nail varnish painted on their claws to ensure keepers "can accurately record health checks, weight and developmental progress", a representative keeper Jason Keller said the move was necessary as it was "easy to confuse them, especially with multiple chicks in some nest boxes and markings that are very similar"."Painting the toenails... means we can be sure we are recording all their information correctly," he added. 'Explore the pool' The chicks recently hatched at the zoo's expanded Penguin Cove area, which saw a new sanded beach area added in 2024 and the number of nest boxes increased from six to 11. The zoo representative said the cove was home to 10 males and 13 female Magellanic penguins, a species native to the coasts of Argentina and said the gender of the chicks would be confirmed when feather samples were analysed at the age of about 12 weeks old."Once this is confirmed they will be named and have an ID band fitted for identification," the representative said. "They will also start to slowly explore the pool around this time, with their parents teaching them how to swim." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
ABC News
19-06-2025
- Health
- ABC News
Tassie penguins affected by worms
Tasmania is famous for its wildlife; wombats; Tassie devils and even little penguins. But in Burnie, on the state's north coast one wildlife carer has noticed a concerning issue with these beloved birds. An increasing number are affected by worms and it's impacting their health and giving insights into their changing environment.
