African penguins could be extinct by 2035, campaigners say

A group of African penguins explore a beach in Cape Town, South Africa, in March 2022. Photograph: Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

African penguins are on track for extinction by 2035 if measures are not taken to ensure their survival, campaigners have said.

The population of African penguins has declined dramatically over the past 100 years. In the early 20th century, it is thought that there were probably several million breeding pairs: today, fewer than 11,000 breeding pairs remain, and the population continues to fall sharply.