African Penguin

Known as the “jackass” penguin for its donkey-like bray. Population has fallen 97% since the 1900s — one of the most urgent conservation stories in the bird world.

Africa’s Only Penguin

The African Penguin (Spheniscus demersus) is the sole penguin species found on the African continent. It breeds on the rocky shores and islands of southern Africa, from Namibia to Port Elizabeth, with the most famous colony at Boulders Beach near Simon’s Town, Cape Town.

Unlike most penguin species, African Penguins deal with warm, sub-tropical temperatures. Pink patches of bare skin above the eyes help regulate body heat — the patches flush darker as blood flow increases to cool the bird down.

The Jackass Call

The species earned its nickname from its loud, braying call — an uncanny imitation of a donkey. Vocalisation plays a critical role in pair bonding and chick recognition; each bird has a unique call that parents and chicks use to find each other in dense colonies.

A Species in Crisis

The numbers tell a stark story:

• 1900: ~4 million individuals
• 1956: ~150,000 breeding pairs
• 2023: fewer than 10,000 breeding pairs remain

The collapse has been driven by:

1. Egg harvesting in the 19th and early 20th centuries
2. Competition with commercial fisheries depleting their prey (sardines and anchovies)
3. Oil spills — the species is highly vulnerable to oil contamination
4. Habitat loss and human disturbance at nesting sites

“At current rates of decline, the African Penguin could be functionally extinct within 15 years without significant intervention.” — SANCCOB

Conservation Efforts

The Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB) runs oiled-bird rehabilitation, hand-rearing abandoned chicks, and nest box programmes. Artificial nesting burrows have significantly improved breeding success in exposed colonies.

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Where to see them: Boulders Beach, near Cape Town, South Africa — one of the few places on Earth where you can walk among wild penguins on a beach.