African Penguins Listed as Critically Endangered

On October 28, 2024, just a few weeks after African Penguin Awareness Day, the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) uplisted the African Penguin to Critically Endangered, the closest level to functional extinction. Previously these penguins were classified as Endangered, but despite tireless work from conservationists, their numbers have continued to fall.

In the early 1900s, there were between 1.5 and 3 million African penguins in the wild. Their population has dropped by a staggering 97%.  Past and current threats include poaching, habitat destruction, global warming, and overfishing. If we don’t want African penguins to face extinction, we must take action now.  

You can help the penguins.  

• Tell the South African minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment how important it is to protect the African penguin

  • https://www.africanpenguinnotonourwatch.org/email-the-minister

• Donate to support research, education, and conservation of African penguins.

  • SANCCOB Saves Seabirds 

  • Penguins International 

• Spread the word about African penguins and their plight. 

Don’t let African penguins become just a memory. 

RESOURCES

African Penguin Newly Classified as ‘Critically Endangered’ as Breeding Pairs Fall Below 10000

Not On Our Watch