Emperor penguins in West Antarctica are facing severe survival challenges due to the drastic reduction in sea ice. These penguins, comprising 30-40% of the global population, undergo an annual 'catastrophic moult,' where they shed and replace their feathers, an energy-intensive process causing them to lose up to 50% of their body mass. During this moult, they are highly vulnerable as they lack waterproof feathers, making entering the water dangerous.