Viking Expedition Team Discovers New Penguin Colony in Antarctica

Viking recently announced its expedition team supported the discovery of a new colony of chinstrap penguins not previously known to science. The discovery was made on Diaz Rock, near Astrolabe Island, in Antarctica, in January 2024, when Viking Octantis visited the 3-mile-long island. The island is home to a colony of chinstrap penguins that not been surveyed since 1987.

While visiting, Viking’s scientific partner Oceanites conducted a visual and thermal aerial survey; more details will come from a scientific paper to follow. The findings come one year after Viking released its first scientific paper following its team’s encounter with rare giant phantom jellyfish in Antarctica.

© Viking – Hayley Charlton Howard

“The Antarctic peninsula is well-traveled and explored, and it is not often we find a new penguin colony,” said Dr. Grant Humphries, director of science, Oceanites. “Our partnership with Viking opened a new opportunity to not only count the chinstrap penguins on Astrolabe Island for the first time since the 1980s, but it also allowed us to locate and map a colony of chinstrap penguins previously unknown to us. This work will allow us to get a better understanding of how Antarctic penguin population dynamics are shifting in an ever-changing world.”

Viking offers destination-focused expeditions in Antarctica, the Arctic and the Great Lakes aboard Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris.

“With our third season in Antarctica underway, we are pleased to have supported another significant scientific development that will allow for further understanding of the region,” said Torstein Hagen, chairman, Viking. “From the thoughtful design of our expedition vessels, each with a well-appointed Science Lab, to our partnerships with some of the world’s most prestigious institutions, our intention has always been to provide our guests and scientists with opportunities for meaningful discovery during each voyage. We look forward to supporting other critical research opportunities on future voyages.”