In the second “catastrophic” breeding season for Adelie penguins in five years, conservationists are calling for drastic measures to save the species. All but two Adelie penguin chicks have starved to death in the 2017 breeding season. The last high mortality breeding season occurred in 2015 when every single chick died. Scientists say the record amount of sea ice meant adults needed to travel farther for food as well as increased competition for a primary food source of krill from commercial fishing vessels.

Scientists and conservationists believe this may not be the last of high mortality breeding seasons unless a marine protected area is enacted in the eastern Antarctic to protect the colony of 36,000 Adelie penguins. While the WWF suggests a total ban on commercial fishing of krill in the area.

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