You can help save the critically endangered African penguin

By Yaashree Himatsingka

10 October, 2024 - Not On Our Watch, Penguins, Conservation, Sustainable Seafood, Foundation, Blog

You can help save the critically endangered African penguin

With its distinctive donkey-like bray and plumage resembling a tuxedo, the African penguin is a charismatic seabird native to the coastlines of South Africa and Namibia. Tragically, its populations are now endangered as only 1% of African penguins remain from pre-industrial times, plummeting from over 1 million breeding pairs in the early 1900s to less than 10,400 pairs today. With such low numbers, the birds are projected to be functionally extinct by 2035.

It is easy to feel powerless when faced with such a dire situation. But there is hope! And a lot that you can do:

Educate yourself. A wall on the lower level of Two Oceans Aquarium reads: “In the end, we will conserve only what we love; we will love only what we understand, and we will understand only what we are taught.” The quote by Senegalese environmentalist Baba Dioum tells us that to meaningfully conserve a species or ecosystem, we need to educate ourselves about it first. So, learn about the African penguin! Share your knowledge with friends and family. Watch Penguin Town on Netflix for a humorous, reality-television-styled glimpse into their daily lives in Simonstown. Learn why the African penguin is both ecologically and economically important. Read about what is happening to the African penguin as well as why it is happening. Visit and feed penguins at the Two Oceans Aquarium’s Penguin Exhibit, located on Cape Town’s dazzling V&A Waterfront.

Be a respectful visitor when visiting wild penguin colonies. Keep a safe distance of at least three meters from the penguins, avoid disturbing their natural habitat, and follow all guidelines set by conservation authorities to ensure their protection. If you see fellow visitors getting too close to the birds, politely request them to move back and observe from a distance.

Support the #NotOnOurWatch campaign. The #NotOnOurWatch campaign is a grassroots movement dedicated to protecting the endangered African penguin. Support the campaign by using the #NOOW hashtag when posting on social media, emailing Dr Dion George, Minister of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment, to demand stronger protections for the African penguin, and actively raising awareness – you can use their free resources!

Consume and advocate for sustainable seafood. The African penguins’ chief food source of small pelagic (living near the ocean’s surface) fish is rapidly depleting due to overfishing and unsustainable practices. By eating and advocating for sustainable seafood, you can help reduce the pressure on their food supply and support healthier marine ecosystems. Download, use, and circulate this handy graphic to make sustainable choices while purchasing seafood or dining out in South Africa. In the absence of MSC/ASC certification labels (Step 1), you will need to use the SASSI app or online list to determine the sustainability status of the seafood you are considering (Steps 2 and 3). SASSI, or the Southern African Sustainable Seafood Initiative, is a consumer education program designed to promote the responsible consumption of seafood to protect marine environments.

Help clean up our coasts. By removing harmful debris from beaches and marine environments, we can provide safer habitat for penguins and other wildlife. Get involved with coastal cleanups like Trash Bash to reduce pollution and protect our marine ecosystem. Dates and locations are regularly posted on the Two Oceans Aquarium’s Facebook page, and walk-ins are always welcome!

Volunteer at SANCCOB.SANCCOB is a seabird rescue and rehabilitation organisation with centres in Cape Town and Gqeberha that specialises in caring for ill, injured, and oiled seabirds, especially the endangered African penguin. By volunteering, you’ll get to spend your time nursing penguins back to health before releasing them into the wild! You can also fundraise, donate, adopt a penguin, and more.

Every effort counts in ensuring the survival of these remarkable birds. Share this blog with your family and friends and encourage them to get involved in conservation efforts. Together, we can make a significant difference!