The Endangered African Penguin

In May 2010 the African Penguin Status was changed from "Vulnerable" to "Endangered".

The African Penguin (Spheniscus demersus) is also called the Jackass Penguin due to the donkey like braying sound they make.

African Penguins grow to 68 – 70 cm tall and weigh between 2 and 5 kg.

In looks the black and white critters have a black stripe and black spots on their white breasts. The pattern of spots is unique for every penguin – just like a human fingerprint.

The only spot of colour is the pink gland above the eyes. The hotter a penguin gets, the more blood is sent to these glands so it may be cooled by the surrounding air, thus making the glands look more pink.

Males are generally larger than females and have larger beaks but other than that males and females are indistinguishable by their external markings.

The penguins colouring is a vital form of camouflage – white for underwater predators looking upwards and black for predators looking down onto the dark water!

100 years ago there were approximately 1.5 million African Penguins and it is estimated that there is less than 10% of that population left. Help save the endangered African Penguin by supporting the Simon’s Town Penguin Festival this weekend 1- 3 October at Boulders Beach.

IMAGES courtesy of Jacques Marais