View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/thepopular...

Penguins are odd birds. For one, they cannot fly (but they are amazing swimmers), and, contrary to popular belief, the majority of penguin populations live in warmer waters. But these beloved birds are in danger, with populations declining up to 90%. Dyan deNapoli explains the reasons behind the decline and why penguins are like the proverbial canary in the coal mine of our oceans.

Lesson by Dyan deNapoli, animation by Zedem Media.