The March Of the Penguins, Toward Extinction

They are must-see stops on aquarium tours, unlikely stars of the Hollywood scene and lovable enough to be transformed into plush, stuffed bedside companions for kids.

Lovable they may be, but it's not keeping them from walking the path toward extinction. According to some experts at the sixth International Penguin Conference, as many as 12 of the world's 17 species of penguins are in serious trouble, the Australian reported today. The United States has considered petitions to list 10 on the endangered species list.

Penguins face a variety of existential threats, none larger than global warming. The March of the Penguins, the unlikely 2005 Hollywood hit, side-stepped this issue to some consternation of environmental advocates by focusing on the family lives and extraordinary migration of the Emperor Penguin. But the movie illustrated beautifully how inextricably the fortunes of penguins are tied to the solidity of the ice under their feet. In that respect, their position can be improved as the world confronts the challenge of global warming.

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