As a biologist, I’ve spent years studying marine ecosystems, but there’s something uniquely humbling about witnessing the Arctic and Antarctic landscapes firsthand. These regions—vast, remote, and extreme - play a crucial role in regulating our climate and supporting diverse, often fragile, ecosystems. But they’re also undergoing rapid transformations, and we’re only beginning to understand the long-term impacts.
Since 2015, I’ve regularly traveled to the Canadian Arctic, participating in aerial surveys to monitor marine mammals like narwhals and belugas. Over the past decade, I’ve seen more maritime traffic, increasing sightings of killer whales , and local changes in narwhal distribution. The sea ice season appears to be starting later than before, a sign of significant environmental shifts.
In January 2025, I had the opportunity to visit the western Antarctic Peninsula, one of the most prolific regions in the world and also one of the most sensitive to climate change. What happens here has global implications for wildlife and for ocean health, climate stability, and international policy.
Whale Seeker’s work has always been about bridging scientific research and technology-driven conservation. The challenge in Antarctic conservation isn’t just knowing that change is happening, it’s having the tools to measure, interpret, and act on it.
Penguins as Climate Sentinels
Penguins are more than charismatic symbols of the Antarctic; they are sentinels of environmental change and help us understand changes happening in this region , particularly among Adélie, chinstrap, and gentoo penguins.
Adélie penguins, traditionally dominant in this region, are declining as warming temperatures reduce the sea ice they rely on for feeding.
Chinstrap penguins, which prefer open water, are stable or increasing in some areas, benefiting from the loss of sea ice.
Gentoo penguins, known for their adaptability, are expanding further south, occupying areas once dominated by Adélies.
The reason for my voyage on the western peninsula was not only to help count penguin colonies of Adélie, Chinstrap, and Gentoo penguins, a work that has been conducted for over 30 years by the non profit organization Oceanites, but also to better understand the colony's environment. Any AI solutions require a high quality training dataset. These data are obtained from manual annotations done by biologists like me. Thus it was essential for me to get boots on the ground in order to help refine our AI solution when annotation errors are made.
By integrating machine learning and automation, we’re transforming the way wildlife monitoring is done, making it faster, less intrusive, and more scalable.
The data gathered through this collaboration not only deepens our understanding of penguin populations but also provides crucial insights that can inform conservation policies.
Looking Ahead: Science, Innovation, and Action
At Whale Seeker, we are committed to using AI to enhance marine conservation, ensuring that science drives policy and that data leads to action. With partners like Oceanites and WWF, we are working to refine and expand AI’s applications for wildlife monitoring, helping researchers and policymakers make better-informed conservation decisions, faster.
Ultimately, it’s the intersection of science, regulation, and collective responsibility that will shape the future of Antarctica.
F.A.Q.
Why are penguin populations changing in Antarctica?
Climate change is altering sea ice conditions and food availability, forcing species like Adélie and gentoo penguins to shift their ranges.
Is tourism harming Antarctica’s wildlife?
What role does AI play in Antarctic conservation?