Today is World Penguin Day, and that obviously calls for pictures of those cute little birds in tuxedos.

But scientists warned that we need to do more to protect penguins if we want to keep seeing those photos for decades to come.

Two thirds of the world’s 18 penguin species, whose habitats range from the equator to Antarctica, are in decline.

Antarctic penguins in particular are vulnerable to climate change, with shifting ice reducing where they can live and warming seas affecting their prey.


My most favourite animal in the whole wide world. I just love 'em #worldpenguinday pic.twitter.com/09xkUlAJrx — Rachel Hawkins (@ourrachblogs) April 25, 2017

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But it’s not just climate change – overfishing can leave penguins without enough to eat.



‘Penguins are great ambassadors for understanding the need to conserve Southern Ocean resources,’ Christian Reiss, from the US-based National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, said.

As a timely reminder of why we need to help penguins, here are a selection of excellent penguin pictures.

Do enjoy.

On #WorldPenguinDay let's celebrate gay penguins. Here's Roy and Silo and their adopted baby, Tango pic.twitter.com/yc7x5YoPXy — Another Angry Woman (@stavvers) April 25, 2017

#WorldPenguinDay: Climate change is posing a threat to most of the ? species, according to a new study https://t.co/X6ajDbXkHl pic.twitter.com/3HCtYsj06a — AFP news agency (@AFP) April 25, 2017

We never miss a chance to share a penguin image. This one is from A History of the Birds of New Zealand, 1873. Happy #WorldPenguinDay! pic.twitter.com/FJbcXfkeh8 — The British Library (@britishlibrary) April 25, 2017

Q. What do penguin's wear on their feet?

A. Slippers. #WorldPenguinDay pic.twitter.com/EbrH4MNFdd — Red Nose Day (@rednoseday) April 25, 2017

Penguins under threat They live most of their lives at sea but return to land to breed and molt. Only two breeds are currently thriving, with those in the Antarctic most under threat. The sea there is one of the last intact marine ecosystems in the world, home to penguins, seals, Antarctic toothfish, whales and huge numbers of krill, a staple food for many species. Conservationists want to protect huge areas of the sea where fishing is banned, so the ecosytem can remain as stable as possible even amid changes.