For the second time in four years, a large breeding colony of penguins on Antarctica has collapsed, raising the need for more wildlife protection as well as action to curb climate change, scientists say.

In January, the 18,000 pairs of Adelie penguins near France's Dumont d'Urville research station produced just two surviving chicks for the season. The penguins typically lay two eggs per pair.

Four years earlier, about 20,200 pairs produced no surviving chicks at all, said WWF and researchers, including Yan Ropert-Coudert at France's National Centre for Scientific Research.

"Adelie penguins are one of the hardiest and most amazing animals on our planet," Rod Downie, head of WWF's polar programs, said in a statement.