Emperors of Ice

In the frozen wilderness of Antarctica, where oceans ice over and just staying alive is an achievement, one creature has perfected the art of survival - the emperor penguin. Emperor penguins are sublimely built to conquer the cold - but in a world threatened by climate change, can they take the heat? Parts of Antarctica are warming, giving birth to huge icebergs, and the consequences could be catastrophic in a place where all life is touched by the ice. Using Crittercam technology, National Geographic goes on a virtual ride under the ice with the emperor penguin to study the dramatic impact of climate change on the penguin's world.

Learning Questions

  1. How has the habitat of the emperor penguin changed in recent times and how do these changes effect their lives?
  2. How old can emperors penguins live to be?
  3. When do the penguins mate?
  4. How long can emperor penguins hold their breath?
  5. Explain their strategy for staying warm during six weeks of darkness and extremely cold temperatures.
  6. Why is it important to learn about these birds?

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