A captivating and iconic seabird, the African penguin is endemic to South Africa and Namibia. Their endangered status grimly illustrates the human impact on these friendly seabirds and their ecosystem and exemplifies climate change’s devastating and disproportional impact on South Africa’s marine ecosystem The possible extinction of African penguins will not only lead to the loss of an iconic, charismatic species but will also have far-reaching economic impacts through tourism and conservation job losses.
African penguins are indicators of marine health. Their condition warns us of climate change’s effects on our planet’s lungs—the oceans, and therefore us. Unless we do something about it, the African penguin may be functionally extinct in the wild by 2030. We aren’t okay with that.
How we protect African penguins
We help save African penguins from extinction by increasing awareness of their plight through education and outreach.
We work with our partners to bolster populations in the wild by:
• rearing abandoned chicks and incubating eggs—a key part of the African Penguin Biodiversity Management Plan;
• rehabilitating injured, ill, or oiled birds;
• providing funds during emergencies;
• equipping African penguin populations with artificial nests;
• monitoring African penguin research; and
• rejoicing when raised or rehabilitated African penguins are released into the wild.
Questions? Please contact us. We’re happy to answer your questions and we love talking about African penguins.
It’s almost impossible to feel miserable around African penguins. When we tell people we are working to save endangered African penguins from extinction, the first response is, “There are penguins in Africa?”
African penguins are the third smallest penguin species and have charismatic personalities.
When we show them photos, we hear, “Oh, how cute!” African penguins, found only in South Africa and parts of Namibia, will steal your heart.
Our Impact
More information about our impact.
“It’s surely our responsibility to do everything within our power to create a planet that provides a home not just for us, but for all life on Earth.”
Sir David Attenborough
