Reflective Journal 4

Big oil spills are horrible events.Perpetual small leaks, illegal dumping and poor regulations are actually much greater threats to penguins and other marine life.Oil kills penguins. It coats their feathers, leaving them without much-needed insulation. Penguins then ingest the toxic oil when they attempt to clean their feathers.
In recent years, as commercial fishing has become more efficient, people have been catching and eating more fish than ever before. Commercial fishing has depleted some fish populations to such a degree that there are sometimes not enough fish left to feed penguins and other fish-eating marine animals.
Global climate change may result in shifting ocean currents, rising temperatures, melting ice caps and a myriad of other threats to penguins and other creatures. Antarctica’s penguins—which have been largely spared most other human-caused threats—may suffer the most from climate change. These birds like the cold. They need the cold.
Penguins are also hunted for their meat, feathers, fat and eggs.

Source:
http://www.neaq.org/education_and_activities/teacher_resources/classroom_resources/teacher_guides/penguin_teacher_guide/penguin_conservation.php http://www.antarcticconnection.com/antarctic/wildlife/penguins/index.shtml