A United States Coastguard icebreaker making its way to McMurdo Base in Antarctica is unlikely to provide an escape route for thousands of penguins cut off by icebergs from the sea - and their food.
Yesterday the 120m Polar Sea, making its annual visit to the US base, was still days
away.
Dene Robinson, manager of New Zealand's Scott Base, which is near McMurdo, said the icebreaker would not make much of an impact.
"Unless we have a decent storm, the sea ice is not going to break up and drift out to sea ...
"There's nothing anybody here can do other than hope for a decent-sized storm in the next few weeks - or next few days would be better. But that is not likely at this point."
The Cape Royds colony of adelie penguins, said to number 20,000 to 30,000 breeding pairs, has been cut off from easy access to the sea by two huge icebergs. The birds have to trek 15km to 20km over the ice before they can reach their fishing grounds.
The colony near the historic hut built by explorer Ernest Shackleton in 1908 has suffered at least two poor breeding seasons since the icebergs blocked them in.
There had been hopes that the icebreaker cutting a channel for supply ships going to McMurdo Base would cause the sea ice trapped by the icebergs to break out of McMurdo Sound, allowing the penguins an easier route to the sea.
Scientists are crossing their fingers that the colony will manage to survive.
Herald feature: Environment
