New gentoo penguin species found on Kerguelen Islands after century
Researchers identified a previously unknown gentoo penguin species living on the remote Kerguelen Islands in September 2026.
Genetic analysis reveals distinct population
An international team led by scientists from Chile and the University of California, Berkeley used DNA evidence to classify the birds. This finding marks the first new penguin species named in more than a hundred years. The study was published in the journal Communications Biology.
Habitat threats loom for colonies
Warming ocean temperatures could reduce suitable living space for several island populations by 2050. Scientists warn that climate change poses a growing threat to these isolated communities. The Kerguelen Islands remain nearly 2,000 miles from any permanently inhabited landmass.
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