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WATCH: Africa’s Only Penguin is Now Critically Endangered

Author: Micky Baker

Published: 20 January 2025

Last Update: 20 January 2025

Cape Town’s most beloved flightless bird, the African penguin, is sadly now closer to extinction than ever before. Towards the end of 2024, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) uplisted the species from “endangered” to “critically endangered,” highlighting the plight of this iconic marine species. According to BirdLife International, it’s a “man-made disaster.”

You probably know these slick-feathered creatures from Boulders Beach in Cape Town, where they’ve become world-famous for their adorable antics both on the beach and in the surrounding residential areas. In fact, Boulders Beach is consistently one of the Cape’s top tourist attractions, with travellers flocking from around the world to see these tuxedo-clad birds up close.

Now, with just 3% of the historic population remaining, it’s more important than ever to ensure responsible tourism in the areas where these birds are found. Let’s take a closer look at these remarkable animals and how local conservation efforts are fighting to keep them around.

Meet the African Penguin

Two African penguins with their eyes closed standing on a white, sandy beach with their eyes closed. They looks like they are about to kiss.
Two penguins in Cape Town, South Africa | Photo: Tomasz Dutkiewics via Getty

Of the planet’s 19 penguin species, only one is found in the Old World: the African penguin. Although much smaller than its more famous cousins like the emperor penguin and king penguin, its distinctive tuxedo-like plumage, pink eye patches, and black mask are instantly recognisable.

Adults can weigh up to 3.5 kg and stand 70 cm tall. Like all other penguins, the African penguin has traded flight for supreme swimming ability, and it’s able to hunt fish at depths of up to 130 m for as long as four minutes.

Its donkey-like bray is another feature that sets it apart, and some people still call it the jackass penguin as a result. During the breeding season, colonies can get incredibly loud! African penguins are monogamous, so they partner up for life. These breeding pairs return to the same sites each year, with the vast majority of breeding pairs based in South Africa.

The largest colony is on St. Croix Island in Algoa Bay, with notable populations on Dassen Island, Robben Island, and in Betty’s Bay. There are also a few thousand breeding pairs in Namibia. Despite being the most famous colony, penguins only started settling at Boulders Beach in the 1980s.

On the Verge of Extinction

There’s no doubt about it: if the African penguin goes extinct, it will be our fault.

“Faced with numerous threats, a primary cause of the African Penguin’s decline is a lack of available food due to climate change, made worse by competition from commercial fishing around its breeding colonies, which impacts the species’ survival and breeding success,” says SANCCOB, an organisation dedicated to reversing the decline of seabird populations in South Africa.

“While there are existing no-take zones where commercial fishing is prohibited to help the penguins better access the fish they feed on, primarily sardines and anchovies, research by seabird scientists has demonstrated that these zones are currently inadequate for penguin conservation.”

To put things in perspective, there has been a 97% decrease in the number of African penguins over the past few decades. There are now fewer than 10,000 breeding pairs in existence, and some researchers warn that the species could vanish altogether in less than a decade.

“The African Penguin is in a dire situation, and we cannot afford to wait any longer to protect the species properly,” says Nicky Stander, Head of Conservation at SANCCOB. “In just over a decade, they could no longer exist, which not only has an impact on our marine ecosystem but also on South Africa’s economy and ecotourism.

“These animals are beloved and quintessential to South Africa, and governments, organisations, and individuals must come together to save them at all costs.”

What’s Being Done to Save the African Penguin?

As far as official government policy is concerned, there are existing “no-take zones” where commercial fishing is prohibited that safeguard fish stocks for around 76% of the total African penguin population. However, experts assert that this approach simply isn’t good enough.

In 2024, BirdLife South Africa and SANCCOB partnered up to take legal action to force the government to increase protection for the penguins.

“The legal action aims to replace the existing no-fishing zones with re-configured areas that better overlap with the penguins’ key feeding grounds while still minimising the impact on the fishing industry,” BirdLife explains. “The proposed zones would cover six major penguin colonies, helping to reduce competition for food and allowing fish stocks to recover, ultimately boosting the penguins’ chances of survival.”

Aside from this legal action, various organisations and activists are taking matters into their own hands. The above video by the Blue Marine Foundation is one such example. The organisation teamed up with local marine conservationist and filmmaker Zandi Ndhlovu to release the short film, putting the plight of African penguins in the global spotlight.

How Can You Help?

Two African Penguins standing at the edge of the beach. The water is clear and blue.
Two Penguins at Boulders Beach in Simons Town | Photo: blueorangestudio via Canva

If you take anything from this article, let it be this: it’s never okay to get too close to African penguins, whether at Boulders Beach or elsewhere. Social media is flooded with countless examples of tourists, influencers, and oblivious locals walking right up to these wild animals – even going so far as to feed them in some cases – but this is totally unacceptable.

Wildlife must be respected and admired from a safe and responsible distance. By getting too close to African penguins, you could expose them to diseases like avian flu, cause unnecessary stress, and put added pressure on a species that’s already facing challenges from all sides.

Instead, take photos and videos from a distance and pay attention to the signage that SANParks has placed around Boulders Beach. The same applies at the Bettys Bay colony, where CapeNature oversees conservation measures.

Last, but not least, offer your support to organisations like the Blue Marine Foundation and spread awareness about African penguins on social media. You can also sign this petition.

Every little bit helps! After all, if Cape Town was to lose one of its most beloved wildlife attractions, it would be a tragic day for locals and tourists alike.

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