Massive drop in Crozet Islands penguins colonies

Sentinel-1 CSAR IW acquired on 20 March 2016 at 15:34:54 UTC
Sentinel-1 CSAR IW acquired on 18 July 2016 at 15:35:00 UTC
Sentinel-2 MSI acquired on 23 February 2018 at 06:32:11 UTC
Sentinel-2 MSI acquired on 23 June 2018 at 06:32:11 UTC
Author(s): Sentinel Vision team, VisioTerra, France - svp@visioterra.fr
Keyword(s): Island, archipelago, coastal, biodiversity, Indian Ocean, France
Fig. 1 - S1 (20.03.2016) - vv,vh,ndi(vh,vv) - Île aux Cochons (Pig Island) in Crozet Islands, French Southern and Antarctic Lands.
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Lying just north of the small Île des Pingouins, Île aux Cochons used to host a 500000 couples strong royal penguins colony, World's largest.
Fig. 2 - S2 (23.02.2018) - 11,8,3 colour composite - East Island during the austral summer.
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Fig. 3 - S1 (18.07.2016) - Large populations of seabirds, seals and penguins live on the remote, volcanic Crozet archipelago.
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Fig. 4 - S2 (23.06.2018) - 11,8,3 colour composite, relief x2 - Possession Island, station Alfred Faure lies easternmost.
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Fig. 5 - S1 (18.07.2016) - Like its sisters, Possession Island is blanketed with snow during the austral winter.
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A study published in Antartic Science writes Pig Island royal penguins colony saw its number drop from 500000 couples to 60000, a 88% decline. No cause has been identified yet. The archipelago is only inhabited by 20 to 30 scientist living in station Alfred Faure.
The views expressed herein can in no way be taken to reflect the official opinion of the European Space Agency or the European Union.
Contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data 2025, processed by VisioTerra.
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