African penguins (Spheniscus demersus).
Image: User:Salimfadhley, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
At a glance
- IUCN category
- CR · Critically Endangered
- Animal group
- Birds
- Population trend
- Decreasing
- FaunaHub record reviewed
- Checked against IUCN
- Matches source — IUCN's 2024 global assessment of Spheniscus demersus says Critically EndangeredChecked 2026-10-09 against IUCN's Red List export published 2026-07-28 · assessment
Conservation overview
The African penguin is the only penguin that breeds in Africa, recognisable by its braying call and the black band across its chest. It is assessed as Critically Endangered.
Its numbers have fallen sharply as the small fish it eats have become scarcer near its colonies.
Range & habitat
Breeds on the coasts and islands of South Africa and Namibia.
Major threats
Threats below are drawn from the authoritative sources listed on this page. For the current, complete assessment, see the IUCN Red List.
- Shortage of prey fish (sardines and anchovies)
- Oil spills
- Historical egg and guano collection
Why it matters
A fast-declining seabird off southern Africa, the African penguin is a visible indicator of the health of the region's fisheries and marine ecosystem.
Reported as up-listed to Critically Endangered in 2024 amid steep colony declines; confirm the current category on the live IUCN entry.
Gallery
African penguins (Spheniscus demersus) on the shore.
Image: Sander Spek, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
Sources
Sources for African Penguin
- IUCN Red List — look up African Penguin (authoritative status)
- Animal Diversity Web