Emperor penguins are seen in Dumont d'Urville, Antarctica April 10, 2012. Counting emperor penguins in their icy Antarctic habitat was not easy until researchers used new technology to map the birds from space, and they received a pleasant penguin surprise for their efforts. Using satellite mapping with resolution high enough to distinguish ice shadows from penguin poo, an international team has carried out what they say is an unprecedented penguin census from the heavens over the past three years. Picture taken April 10, 2012. REUTERS/Martin Passingham (ANTARCTICA - Tags: ANIMALS ENVIRONMENT) 

Emperor penguins are seen in Dumont d'Urville, Antarctica April 10, 2012. Counting emperor penguins in their icy Antarctic habitat was not easy until researchers used new technology to map the birds from space, and they received a pleasant penguin surprise for their efforts. Using satellite mapping with resolution high enough to distinguish ice shadows from penguin poo, an international team has carried out what they say is an unprecedented penguin census from the heavens over the past three years. Picture taken April 10, 2012. REUTERS/Martin Passingham (ANTARCTICA - Tags: ANIMALS ENVIRONMENT) 

Emperor penguins are seen in Dumont d'Urville, Antarctica April 10, 2012. Counting emperor penguins in their icy Antarctic habitat was not easy until researchers used new technology to map the birds from space, and they received a pleasant penguin surprise for their efforts. Using satellite mapping with resolution high enough to distinguish ice shadows from penguin poo, an international team has carried out what they say is an unprecedented penguin census from the heavens over the past three years. Picture taken April 10, 2012. REUTERS/Martin Passingham (ANTARCTICA - Tags: ANIMALS ENVIRONMENT) 

An Emperor penguin is seen close to its herd in Dumont d'Urville, Antarctica April 10, 2012. Counting emperor penguins in their icy Antarctic habitat was not easy until researchers used new technology to map the birds from space, and they received a pleasant penguin surprise for their efforts. Using satellite mapping with resolution high enough to distinguish ice shadows from penguin poo, an international team has carried out what they say is an unprecedented penguin census from the heavens over the past three years. Picture taken April 10, 2012. REUTERS/Martin Passingham (ANTARCTICA - Tags: ANIMALS ENVIRONMENT) 

A King Penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus) chick stands next to its mother at their enclosure at the Jurong Bird Park in Singapore October 21, 2008. The King Penguin is the second largest species of penguin, second only to the Emperor Penguin. The chick was born on September 1, 2008. REUTERS/Tim Chong (SINGAPORE) 

A King Penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus) looks at visitors from its enclosure at the Jurong Bird Park in Singapore October 21, 2008. The King Penguin is the second largest species of penguin, second only to the Emperor Penguin. REUTERS/Tim Chong (SINGAPORE) 

A King Penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus) looks at visitors from its enclosure at the Jurong Bird Park in Singapore October 21, 2008. The King Penguin is the second largest species of penguin, second only to the Emperor Penguin. REUTERS/Tim Chong (SINGAPORE) 

A King Penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus) chick stands next to its mother at their enclosure at the Jurong Bird Park in Singapore October 21, 2008. The King Penguin is the second largest species of penguin, second only to the Emperor Penguin. The chick was born on September 1, 2008. REUTERS/Tim Chong (SINGAPORE) 

An Emperor penguin waddles along sea ice off the Antarctic coast off Ross Island December 9, 2006. REUTERS/Deborah Zabarenko (ANTARTICA) 

A lone foraging emperor penguin "toboggans" on its belly across the frozen Ross Sea, with the live volcano Mount Erebus in the background, off Ross Island, Antarctica, December 9, 2006. Picture taken December 9, 2006. REUTERS/Deborah Zabarenko (ANTARCTICA) 

An Emperor penguin slides on the ice below Mount Erebus in Antarctica in this photograph taken December 9, 2006. Mount Erebus, an active volcano, was one of the locations for filmmaker Werner Herzog's recent documentary shoot. Herzog, who has made movies about grizzly bears in Alaska and a downed fighter pilot in Laos, just finished filming in Antarctica. Picture taken December 9, 2006. FOR FEATURE STORY ANTARCTICA/HERZOG REUTERS/Deborah Zabarenko (ANTARCTICA) 

A foraging Emperor penguin preens on snow-covered sea ice around the base of the active volcano Mount Erebus, near McMurdo Station, the largest U.S. Science base in Antarctica, December 9, 2006. REUTERS/Deborah Zabarenko (ANTARTICA) 

Academy Award nominees for best documentary feature for "March of the Penguins" director Luc Jacquet (L) and producer Yves Darondeau of France pose next to a large Oscar statue during a reception for nominees hosted by the International Documentary Association in Beverly Hills, California March 1, 2006. The film shot in Antarctica, follows the journey of Emperor penguins as they prepare to mate and then take care of their young. The Academy Awards will be presented March 5 in Hollywood. REUTERS/Fred Prouser 

Academy Award nominees for best documentary feature for 'March of the Penguins' director Luc Jacquet (2nd L) and producer Yves Darondeau (3rd L) pose with the film's other producers Emmanuel Priou (L) and Christophe Lioud, all from France, next to a large Oscar statue during a reception for nominees hosted by the International Documentary Association in Beverly Hills, California March 1, 2006. The film shot in Antarctica, follows the journey of Emperor penguins as they prepare to mate and then take care of their young. The Academy Awards will be presented March 5 in Hollywood. REUTERS/Fred Prouser 

Japan's Crown Prince Naruhito and wife Princess Masako pose with an
Emperor penguin soft toy presented to them during their visit to the
International Antartic Centre in Christchurch, New Zealand, on December
14, 2002.The royal visit coincides with the 50th anniversary of
diplomatic relations between Japan and New Zealand. REUTERS/Simon
Baker

SB/JD 

Japan's Crown Prince Naruhito and wife Princess Masako pose with an
Emperor penguin soft toy presented to them during their visit to the
International Antartic Centre in Christchurch, New Zealand, on December
14, 2002.The royal visit coincides with the 50th anniversary of
diplomatic relations between Japan and New Zealand. REUTERS/Simon
Baker

SB/JD 

FOR RELEASE WITH STORY BC-ANTARCTICA-LIFE - A young emperor penguin stands lonely on the Ross Ice Shelf near the New Zealand scientific research facility of Scott Base. Antarctica is the coldest and driest continent on earth yet is still able to support some life. Around 40 scientific research bases are maintained on the ice by countries that are signatories to the 1959 Antarctica Treaty. Photo taken January 28.

AJS/DL/JDP 

A young emperor penguin stands lonely on the Ross Ice Shelf near the New Zealand scientific research facility of Scott Base. Antarctica is the coldest and driest continent on earth yet is still able to support some life. Around 40 scientific research bases are maintained on the ice by countries that are signatories to the 1959 Antarctica Treaty. Photo taken January 28. 

Japanese Emperor Akihito (L) watches a Magallean penguin at the Oceanarium in the world exhibition Expo 98 May 25. The Emperor and Empress finished their visit to Portugal and are now on the way to England. Over 150 countries and international organizations are participating in the last major fair of the 20th century.

SP/KM 

An unidentified United States helicopter pilot moves in for a close up picture of an Emperor penguin on the Ross Sea ice shelf about 150kms north of Scott Base in November 1995.