Gentoo penguins are flourishing inside an active Antarctic volcano as the climate changes, the BBC reported.

The birds have made their home in the volcano’s sheltered caldera. Warmer conditions appear to suit them.

National Geographic has documented the rich wildlife of Deception Island’s volcanic landscape. The island hosts remarkable biodiversity.

The finding surprises scientists. An active volcano seems an unlikely refuge, but the penguins are doing well there.

Researchers will keep watching the colony. It may reveal how wildlife adapts as Antarctica warms.

Deception Island is a flooded volcanic caldera in Antarctica. Chinstrap penguins also breed on its shores. Scientists study how life copes with such extremes. Geothermal warmth may shelter the birds. The colony offers clues about adaptation in a warming world.

The research team will return next season. Long-term monitoring will show if the boom continues. It is one of the most surprising wildlife stories of the year.