World Penguin Day: These Wobblers Are Facing Extinction Too

April 25 is World Penguin Day - but penguins are not those who can celebrate because they are now facing possible extinction. People do not seem to appreciate them enough, so to know just what humans are missing, here are some penguin trivia to add to your knowledge about these animals that we may lose sooner rather than later:

Emperor Penguins

There are 16 species of penguins, but according to CNN, the Emperor Penguins are the largest - they can weigh up to 100 pounds and grow up to 4 feet tall. Emperor Penguins usually along the coast of Anarctica, but other penguin species can be found in South Africa, Chile, Argentina, Australia, and New Zealand.

While Emperor Penguins look awkward on land - they waddle adorably - they are fierce and graceful underwater. These massive, non-flying birds can dive more than 1,800 feet, and can stay underwater for up to 20 minutes.

Adelie Penguins

One of the smallest species of their kind, Adelies are less than half the size of Emperor Penguins, but they are the most abundant species. They live in large colonies in the Antactic area, and every October, they build nests of rocks near open water.

African Penguins

They may be called jackasses, but they're not jerks. African penguins, which are sometimes also called Jackass penguins, live in Boulders Beach near Cape town in South Africa. In fact, the place is a popular destination for penguin-spotting. Unlike their Antarctica cousins, however, African penguins are homebodies - they breed, nest, and feed in the same area instead of traveling hundreds of miles. They too are on the endangered species list, as their population has been threatened by their loss of nesting grounds and decreasing food supply.

Little Penguins

The fairy or blue penguins, which can be found in New Zealand and Australia are the smallest of the lot, weighing a meager kilo or two, and just a little over a foot tall. According to treehugger.com, they have pretty long lifespans, too, at 6.5 years. For those in captivity, they get to live very old - up to 25 years!

Around the globe, penguin populations are steadily declining due to man-made changes that affect their environment, like overfishing. Like other animals in polar regions, they too, are feeling victims of the effects of climate change, and are fast losing their homes and their food sources.