Irish Examiner View: Wondrous nature

11 new colonies of emperor penguins discovered in Antarctica

A discovery of 11 new colonies of emperor penguins in Antarctica is testament to the wonder of nature, even in the harshest conditions.

A discovery of 11 new colonies of emperor penguins in Antarctica is testament to the wonder of nature, even in the harshest conditions. It is also testament to the importance of modern technology in locating and protecting the species, whose breeding ground is vulnerable to climate change.

Findings published in the journal Remote Sensing In Ecology and Conservation show how images from the European Commission's Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellite mission were used to locate the birds, whose remote, freezing habitat makes them difficult to study.