The City of Cape Town is marking World Penguin Day with a renewed warning over the decline of the African penguin, now listed as Critically Endangered. The species was uplisted in 2024 on the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature, reflecting a sharp population decline across southern Africa.
African Penguin Population Decline
Mayoral Committee Member for Spatial Planning and Environment, Eddie Andrews, said the City was observing the day with concern. “There are now fewer than 10,000 breeding pairs left. Without drastic intervention, scientists have warned this charismatic species could be extinct in the wild by 2035,” Andrews said. The African penguin is the only penguin species endemic to the coastlines of South Africa and Namibia, and is widely regarded as an important indicator of marine ecosystem health, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
The birds also play a key role in Cape Town’s tourism economy. Colonies at Boulders Beach Penguin Colony and Robben Island attract large numbers of visitors each year, supporting local businesses and tourism operators. Andrews said the species faces a combination of environmental and human-related pressures.
Threats to African Penguins
There are three key threats. The first is climate change, where erratic weather patterns disrupt natural cues for moulting and breeding, leading to nest abandonment during extreme heat or floods. The second is food scarcity, where commercial fishing of sardines and anchovies forces penguins to travel further for food, leaving chicks exposed to land-based predators such as mongooses, caracals and kelp gulls.
The third is urban pressure. Simon’s Town penguins, which are a land-based colony, face challenges including domestic pet attacks, honey bee stings, vehicle traffic and human disturbance. To respond to these threats, the City has invested in a Penguin Ranger Team in partnership with South African National Parks and SANCCOB.
The rangers operate across Simon’s Town, False Bay and the Atlantic Seaboard, monitoring nesting sites, collecting data on breeding success, and responding to injured, oiled or diseased birds. Rescued penguins are transported to SANCCOB for rehabilitation and release. Residents and visitors are urged not to handle distressed penguins. Instead, sightings should be reported to the City’s Penguin Ranger Team with a photograph, description and GPS location.
- Report distressed penguins to the Penguin Ranger Team
- Do not handle distressed penguins
- Support conservation efforts by visiting Boulders Beach Penguin Colony and Robben Island
The 2035 extinction prediction does not have to become reality. By working together to protect these flightless birds, we can help safeguard the future of our coastline,” Andrews said.
