African Penguin
Spheniscus demersus
Overview
The African penguin has a black back and flippers, black feet and a black face ‘mask’ with white surround. It also has a white torso with a black strap across the upper chest. The eyes of the African penguin are surrounded by pink patches which are used in thermoregulation. Each penguin has a unique pattern of black spots on its chest.
African penguins are 60cm to 68cm tall and weigh between 2.2kg and 3.5kg. Males are slightly larger than females and have a longer beak.
- Found in
- Africa
- Class
- Aves
- Order
- Sphenisciformes
- Family
- Spheniscidae
- Genus
- Spheniscus
Conservation Status
African penguins are Critically Endangered, reflecting the rapid and ongoing decline of their population numbers, due to a combination of human and environmental causes. Overfishing of primary food species like sardines and anchovies limits available food. Coastal development and pollution, particularly oil spills, have severely impacted their breeding sites. Historically, their eggs were heavily poached. Climate change further threatens their survival by altering ocean currents and reducing prey populations.
Conservation focuses on habitat protection, prey sustainability, and reducing human impact. Rescue and rehabilitation of injured or oiled penguins, as well as a newly established captive breeding and rewilding program aim to boost population numbers. Marine protected areas (MPA) limit fishing near colony grounds. Artificial burrows are provided at breeding sites, as guano harvesting has destroyed their natural nesting habitats. Awareness campaigns and ecotourism promote and fund conservation work.
Despite these efforts, African penguin numbers continue to decline at an alarming rate, and further action is needed to secure the future of this species.
- Wild Population
- 19,800
- Conservation Status
- Critically endangered
Animal Facts
- African penguin eggs were seen as a delicacy up until the 1970s; this contributed to the species’ decline.
- African penguins are preyed upon by sharks and fur seals in the ocean and kelp gulls, mongoose, cape genets and domestic cats and dogs on land.
- The African penguin is also known as the Jackass penguin due to its donkey-like cry.
- Penguin faeces, called guano, is an extremely effective fertiliser, but humans harvesting it disturbs the nest sites of African penguins and removes one of the main materials penguins use to build their nests.
- African penguins cannot hunt while moulting as their feathers are not yet waterproof, so they fast until their plumage has fully grown in. Moulting takes 3 weeks and penguins lose 50% of their bodyweight in this time.
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Social & Reproduction
African penguins are social animals and when not foraging at sea, they live in extremely large colonies of many thousands of mated pairs.
African penguins come ashore during their breeding season, which takes place in Summer (Namibia) or Autumn (South Africa). Males arrive 4 days before females and use this time to locate and build a nest site from pebbles, guano and other debris. African penguins typically mate for life, previously mated pairs will locate each other with specific calls while unattached males attempt to attract females with vocalisations, neck swinging displays and showing off their nest site. A pair solidifies their bond by vocalising together and entwining their necks.
The female lays 2 eggs in the nest 3 weeks after mating, which the pair will incubate for 40 days, taking turns to hunt during this time. After hatching, chicks are extremely vulnerable and are often preyed upon by mongooses, gulls or domestic cats. In 90% of cases, only 1 chick will survive to fledging age. The parents protect and feed their chick until 2 to 4 months old. Then, they join a communal creche that is watched over by adults.
Chicks fledge at approximately 4 months old when they first go to sea. Penguins return to their place of birth every year to moult and breed. African penguins are fully grown at 3 years old and reproduce for the first time at 4 to 5 years old.