Emperor penguins get protection under the US Endangered Species Act: Their longevity on our planet is becoming increasingly untenable as global warming accelerates the rate of sea ice melting in Antarctica, but now the shuffling flightless birds will receive protections under the US Endangered Species Act, the US Fish and Wildlife Service says.

Danger in Antarctica: The US Fish and Wildlife Service currently lists the birds as a “threatened” species due to rapid sea ice loss. Early thawing of sea ice — where the penguins search for food, breed, and evade predators — can cause severe declines in colonies, according to a study published in Global Change Biology. Up to 70% of emperor penguin colonies in Antarctica could die out by 2050 under current energy system trends and policies, the study warns.