Survival Challenges for Animals in Antarctica

Antarctica's extreme environment poses five major challenges:

1. Extreme Cold: Average -57°F; animals rely on blubber, feathers, huddling.
2. Food Scarcity: Desert conditions; food webs based on krill, fish, penguins, seals.
3. Ferocious Winds: Up to 200 mph; animals shelter in groups or snow burrows.
4. Predators: Leopard seals, whales, and other seals hunt native species.
5. Climate Change: +3°F in 50 years; melting sea ice threatens penguin and seal habitats.

Despite these, Antarctic fauna demonstrate remarkable resilience.