| Description |
1 online resource (streaming video file) (48 min. 47 sec.) ; 295820958 bytes |
| Summary |
The penguins of the Antarctic lead extraordinary lives, their home is the coldest, windiest and driest place on the planet. These flightless birds manage to cope with such extremes, but how will they survive the even greater challenge of climate change? Penguins are true survivors, pioneers of some of the harshest conditions on the planet. They live in their millions, thriving in Antarctica where winter temperatures are freezing and fierce winds buffet the desolate icy plains. Their ability to cope with such extremes would already appear to defy the odds. But how are they coping with the biggest environmental issue of today - global warming? The largest and most spectacular of its kind - the emperor penguins have the regal air their name suggests and are the hardiest of all penguins. As Antarctica slips into the darkness of winter most penguins head north to warmer waters, only the emperor remains. But not even their survival skills may save them. As more ice melts, their colonies are literally disappearing into the sea.But while one penguin loses out, another gains. King penguins actually do much better in a warmer climate. Their numbers have increased over the last 20 years and their colonies spread further south as the ice melts. It's a similar story for the chinstrap penguins.The frozen home of the penguins is changing beneath their feet. Scientific investigation continues daily to try and find out exactly how. It appears that while parts of the continent are warming, other parts are actually getting colder. How exactly penguins are being affected and what the future holds for them is something biologists are desperate to try and understand.PRODUCTION DETAILS:A co-production of BBC/Thirteen WNET New York. Series Editor: Tim Martin |
| Event |
Broadcast 2009-11-20 at 11:05:00 |
| Notes |
Classification: G |
| Subject |
Climatic changes.
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Penguins -- Behavior.
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Penguins -- Habitat.
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Antarctic Regions.
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| Form |
Streaming video
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