African Penguins declared as officially ‘critically endangered’. This is why

The African Penguin, a beloved symbol of South Africa’s coastal ecosystem, is now one step closer to extinction.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has officially uplisted the species to Critically Endangered, with fewer than 10,000 breeding pairs left in the wild.

Scientists and conservationists warn that without urgent intervention, the African Penguin could disappear entirely in less than 4,000 days, or around 11 years.

The species’ decline is primarily attributed to food scarcity, exacerbated by climate change and competition with commercial fisheries for sardines and anchovies—the penguin’s main diet.

While there are some established no-take zones around key breeding colonies, which prohibit commercial fishing, research by seabird scientists indicates that these areas are currently insufficient to protect the species adequately.

“Seeing a 97% loss in African Penguin populations is devastating,” said Nicky Stander, head of Conservation at the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (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 a key indicator of the wider ecological health of our ocean and are beloved worldwide. We cannot wait any longer for change.”

The African Penguin’s precipitous decline not only signals an ecological crisis but also threatens South Africa’s tourism industry, as penguin colonies draw visitors from around the world.

Natalie Maskell, CEO of SANCCOB, expressed deep concern about the uplisting, noting, “The IUCN uplisting to Critically Endangered means that the African Penguins are just one step away from becoming extinct in the wild. SANCCOB will continue to fight for the future of this iconic species; we must remain optimistic that their trajectory can be reversed."

In the coming months, conservationists are advocating for an expansion of protected areas and stricter enforcement of no-take zones. The hope is that with swift action, these penguins can be saved from the brink and continue to thrive as a vibrant part of South Africa’s coastal ecosystem.

Alistair McInnes, seabird conservation programme manager at BirdLife South Africa pointed out that “the availability of sardine and anchovy is the key driver of the African Penguin population and the sustainable management of purse-seine fishing, such as the implementation of effective no-take zones around the last remaining large colonies, is a critical intervention to help conserve this species. If we don’t act timeously we could lose Africa’s only penguin species well within our lifetime.”

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