“In a research paper titled “A fragile encounter: The paradox of touring emperor penguin colonies in a changing Antarctic” published in the journal Biological Conservation, lead author Allyson Kristan of Duke University and her co-authors describe this as a growing contradiction: a climate-vulnerable species being visited, involving activities that generate disturbance and emissions, which threaten their habitat.”

“The IUCN, drawing on satellite data, reports that about 10% of the global population has already been lost in less than a decade, equivalent to more than 20,000 adult birds.”

“According to the Fragile Encounter paper, Antarctic tourism has surged in recent years, with more than 117,000 visitors recorded in the 2024/25 season – a sharp increase on pre-pandemic levels.”

“Kristan and her colleagues cite research showing that a single Antarctic trip can generate several tonnes of CO₂ per person transported, combining flights and cruise travel.”