African penguin

The African penguin (Spheniscus demersus), also known as Cape penguin or South African penguin, is a species of penguin found only in southern African waters. It is the only penguin that lives in the Old World. Like all penguins, it cannot fly, but its body is built for swimming, with wings changed into stiff, flat flippers. These penguins usually weigh between 2.2 and 3.5 kilograms and stand about 60 to 70 centimeters tall. They have pink skin patches above their eyes and a black mask on their faces. Their backs are black, and their bellies are white with spots and a black band.

African penguins are good divers and eat mostly fish and squid. Once there were many of them, but now they are one of the rarest kinds of penguins. They are called critically endangered because their numbers are getting smaller due to threats like losing their homes, too much fishing, and climate change. Even though they face many challenges, these penguins are loved by many people and are popular with visitors to the coast. Other names for them include black-footed penguin and jackass penguin, because they make a loud noise that sounds like a donkey. You can find them along the coast of South Africa and Namibia.

Taxonomy

The English naturalist George Edwards described the African penguin in 1747, calling them "The Black-Footed Penguins". He based his description on preserved specimens brought to London, likely from near the Cape of Good Hope. Later, in 1758, the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus included the African penguin in his work, giving it the name Diomedea demersa. Today, it is placed in the genus Spheniscus, which also includes other similar penguins like the Humboldt penguin, Magellanic penguin, and Galápagos penguin.

Description

African penguins grow to be about 60–70 cm (24–28 in) tall and weigh between 2.2–3.5 kg (4.9–7.7 lb). They have a black stripe and spots on their chests, and each penguin’s pattern is unique, like human fingerprints. Males are slightly larger than females and have longer beaks.

These penguins have a thick black band that looks like an upside-down horseshoe. They also have black feet and spots that vary in size and shape. Their white bellies help hide them from predators underwater, while their black backs blend in with the water when seen from above. They make loud, braying calls that sound like a donkey.

Distribution

The African penguin lives along the southern and southwestern coast of Africa. These penguins are found on 27 islands between Namibia and Algoa Bay, near Port Elizabeth, South Africa. They are the only penguins that breed in Africa, which is why the area is called the Penguin Islands.

In the 1980s, two new groups of penguins appeared on the mainland near Cape Town, at Boulders Beach near Simon's Town and Stony Point in Betty's Bay. These mainland groups became possible because there were fewer animals that might hurt the penguins, though the Betty's Bay group faced challenges from leopards. There is also a small group in Namibia, but we don’t know when it started.

Boulders Beach is a popular place for tourists because of its beach, swimming, and the penguins. People can get very close to the penguins there.

African penguins are also kept in zoos around the world, but no penguins live outside the southwestern coast of Africa except for a few young penguins that sometimes wander far from their usual homes.

Population

Long ago, in the early 1800s, there were about 4 million African penguins. By 1910, that number had dropped to 1.5 million, and by the end of the 20th century, only about 10% of those remained. Today, most African penguins live on 24 islands from Namibia to Algoa Bay, South Africa, with the exception of the Boulders Beach group.

In 2000, the total number of African penguins was about 150,000 to 180,000. By 2010, this number had dropped to around 55,000. In 2019, the number of breeding pairs fell to about 20,850, and by 2023, it was below 10,000 pairs. This led experts to say the penguin was in serious danger of disappearing.

In March 2025, a decision was made to create larger areas where fishing would not be allowed around six important breeding spots, which should help protect the penguins.

Behaviour

African penguins swim in the open sea to find food. They eat fish such as sardines and anchovies, as well as small animals like squids and krills. These penguins usually stay close to the shore while hunting, and they can eat up to about half a kilogram of food each day, especially when taking care of their babies.

African penguins are loyal to their breeding spots and often return to the same place each year to have their chicks. They lay two eggs in nests dug in the sand or under bushes. Both parents take turns keeping the eggs warm for about 40 days. After the chicks hatch, one parent watches over them while the other goes to find food. The chicks stay close together in groups while their parents are away. It can take between two and four months for the chicks to grow their adult feathers and leave on their own. During this time, the penguins fast while their new feathers grow, losing weight but staying safe on land.

Threats and conservation

African penguins have faced many challenges over the years. In the past, people collected their eggs to eat, which hurt their numbers. Oil spills from ships have also been a big problem, covering the penguins in harmful oil and making it hard for them to survive. Many penguins have been helped and cleaned after these spills, but it is a continuing danger.

The penguins also struggle to find enough food because fishing boats take away the fish they rely on. Efforts to protect the penguins include careful monitoring, helping chicks grow, and creating safe areas where fishing is not allowed. Many groups work together to support these efforts and help the penguin population recover.

Captivity

African penguins are often seen in zoos around the world. They do not need very cold temperatures, so they can live outside in many places. These penguins adjust well to living in zoos and are easier to care for than some other penguin types. In Europe, a breeding program called EAZA is managed by Artis Royal Zoo in the Netherlands. In the United States, a similar program called SSP works together with zoos. The goal is to help protect the penguins in the wild by creating a safe group of them in zoos. From 2010 to 2013, zoos in America spent money to help protect penguins where they naturally live.