A penguin of the South African and Namibian coasts that breeds in large colonies.
When hot, African penguins release heat through increased blood flow in the pink patches above their eyes.
African penguins live on southern African coasts. On hot days ashore they seek shade and release heat through blood flow in the pink patches above their eyes. Both parents rear chicks, and animal-borne cameras have recorded how breeding adults encounter fish underwater.
At Stony Point, South Africa, cameras on 12 adults tending chicks—seven females and five males—recorded 820 minutes of footage between August 2015 and October 2016. Foraging was recorded in 11 birds. The median catch was seven fish in 27 foraging events involving schools, compared with one fish in 66 events involving single prey.
Growing chicks form crèches guarded by adults while parents feed at sea. Care is shared between sea-going parents and birds ashore.
African Penguins breed in South Africa and Namibia and feed on small pelagic fish. Parents need access to prey near breeding colonies, where fishing creates competition.
On 18 March 2025, South Africa’s High Court made an agreement establishing ten-year sardine and anchovy commercial-fishing closures around six colonies an order of court. Tracking evidence helped define feeding-ground protection.
The order requires monitoring and a scientific review after six years. Oil spills and environmental changes remain concerns; protecting the sea used by parents complements nest protection.
IUCN Red List (BirdLife account) · Critically Endangered (CR) · Global
Competition with fisheries and oil spills threaten African penguins. Rescue and rehabilitation have returned oiled birds to the wild in South Africa.
Competition with fisheries for prey and oil spills are threats. A March 2025 court order established ten-year sardine and anchovy commercial-fishing closures around six South African breeding colonies, with monitoring and scientific review.