Satellite photos show emperor penguins in one region of Antarctica declined 22% in the past 15 years.

Scientists have spotted previously unknown colonies of emperor penguins in new satellite imagery.

Scientists say the loss of ice around Antarctica is hurting the survival of emperor penguin chicks.

BERLIN British scientists say they've confirmed there are more emperor penguin colonies in Antarctica than previously thought based on evidence of bird droppings spotted from space. A study published Wednesday by scientists at the British Antarctic Survey counted 61 emperor penguin colonies dotted around the southernmost continent, 11 more than the number previously confirmed. The majestic emperor penguin breeds in remote areas where temperatures can drop as low as minus 50 degrees Celsius (minus 58 degrees Fahrenheit). Peter Fretwell, a British Antarctic Survey geographer and the study's lead author, called the latest count good news but noted that the newly spotted colonies were small. Some of the newly discovered colonies are located far offshore, on sea ice that has formed around grounded icebergs and which is particularly at risk of disappearing.