Penguins visit Akademik Vernadsky station for the first time after the July ice trap. This video will cheer you up

The Akademik Vernadsky Ukrainian Antarctic station, located on Cape Marina, Galindez Island, has been overrun by penguins. These are the first ones to appear here after the severe frosts.

According to scientists, a large number of sub-Antarctic penguins will visit the island where the station is located in September-October. "Scouts", who are looking for nesting sites, are also there, according to the National Antarctic Science Center's Facebook page.

"Representatives of this species of penguin live on our Galindez Island from Antarctic spring to autumn. They build nests here, lay eggs and raise their chicks. Now winter is coming to an end in the Antarctic. Therefore, our biologists record regular visits to Galindez by groups of sub-Antarctic penguins, from 10 to 70 birds. Smaller groups are found directly near the station, and larger ones - at Cape Penguin Point on the other side of the island," the Ukrainian polar explorers wrote in their post.

According to the scientists, after the first surprise visit in late July, small groups of penguins sometimes visited the Ukrainian Antarctic station. But then ice blocked the straits in the area. "Over the past week, stormy winds and temperatures near zero have partially destroyed this ice. And the penguins were able to use the convenient areas on the island again - where there is a relatively gentle descent into the water," said Svitozar Davydenko, biologist of the 29th Ukrainian Antarctic Expedition.

We will remind you that the main purpose of the Akademik Vernadsky station is to conduct ongoing scientific research in the Antarctic. In particular, Ukrainian scientists observe penguins during the climate change, as the birds respond quickly enough to environmental fluctuations.

According to the researchers, until the 2007-2008 season, sub-Antarctic penguins did not nest on the island of the Ukrainian station at all and chose warmer northern territories. Then their colony in the vicinity of Vernadsky was constantly growing. And in the 2023-2024 season, there was a record number of them on Galindez - up to 7,000. Scientists emphasize that such changes are one of the indisputable proofs of warming in the Arctic region.

Only verified information is available on OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!