Help Save the Critically Endangered African penguin!

Featured image: African penguins. Credit: Steve Benjamin.

The beloved black-and-white African penguin (Spheniscus demersus) needs your help! Endemic to the southern African coastline, the African penguin’s population has plummeted from 1.5–3 million individuals in the early 1900s to just over 8,000 breeding pairs in 2023. This dramatic decline is due to overfishing and environmental impacts which has caused populations of fish to crash, leaving the penguins struggling for food. Recently uplisted to Critically Endangered, the African penguin is at risk of becoming functionally extinct in the wild by 2035 unless urgent action is taken now.

The African penguin (Spheniscus demersus). Credit: Steve Benjamin.

How can you help this species in need? Join Mission Blue and become part of the ‘Not on Our Watch (NOOW)‘ campaign, which is appealing to the public and supporting organizations across the globe to raise awareness of the dire situation the species faces. You can send an email to the South African Minister of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment, urging them to take action to protect the African penguins

Click here to make your feelings known and email the Minister.

A group of African penguins. Credit: Steve Benjamin.

Each year, on the 12th of October, people around the globe join forces to celebrate International African Penguin Awareness Day. In the Mission Blue False Bay Hope Spot, South Africa, more than 100 people took to the streets to participate in a 16 km coastal ‘waddle’ to raise awareness and show support for the species. The event was organized by Hope Spot co-champions Two Oceans Aquarium and supported by a number of other local environmental groups, including co-champions CapeRADD, alongside the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB) and I AM WATER.

Representatives from Two Oceans Aquarium and CapeRADD flying the Mission Blue flag during the waddle. Credit: Two Oceans Aquarium.

The waddle was attended by members of the public of all ages, with many families joining the event. With a black-and-white dress code, an eclectic array of outfits was on display, accompanied by a selection of banners and signs supporting the penguins. As the group made their way to the famous African penguin colony in Simon’s Town, the energy of the crowd was palpable as they chanted, ‘Save the penguins!’ while waddling.

A local family putting in the effort to dress up as penguins. Credit: Two Ocean Aquarium.

The public getting involved with the NOOW campaign. Credit Two Oceans Aquarium.

The route offered a number of beach break stops where participants had their faces painted with penguins and were given the opportunity to learn more about the species by visiting information stands hosted by a selection of local organizations working in the area to support the penguins. As a reward for their 16 km waddle, participants were treated to a sight of the African penguins in their natural habitat at the local Simon’s Town colony.

The amazing group of waddlers. Credit: Two Oceans Aquarium.

African penguins are an indicator species, meaning that the condition of the penguin population reflects that of the ecosystem. We ask all ocean lovers and ocean advocates to jump on board to help give this charismatic seabird a voice. Join the collective action for their preservation and protection.

Your voice matters, email the minister here to make it count. For the penguins, for the ocean!

UPDATE: 19 March 2025

The Pretoria High Court finalized a settlement on March 18 that will expand fishing closures around key African penguin breeding colonies. This was a difficult and long negotiation to strike a balance for all parties involved, and includes important wins for conservation. 

“We are quite happy that now there are improved closures… [Some of] the closures are now more than three times the extent of the ones that were in place, they’re much more reflective of where the birds actually go to fish, so they’re more likely to actually do the job they were initially intended to do,” shares Dr Alistair McInnes, the seabird conservation programme manager at BirdLife South Africa (BLSA).

Read more about the settlement here.