South Africa is home to 88% of the world’s colonies of African penguins (Spheniscus demersus). The species is classified as Critically Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. This means there is a high risk the birds could go extinct in the wild following rapid population declines.
This species was once abundant along the coasts of South Africa and Namibia. But the population has fallen by about 78% over the last 30 years, driven by food scarcity, oil spills and climate-related shifts in the marine environment. African penguins mainly feed on anchovy and sardine. Changes in ocean conditions and overfishing have made it more difficult for the penguins to get enough food. In recent years, conservation organisations, scientists and government agencies have escalated efforts to halt this decline.
One of the most significant developments was a March 2025 court ruling that supported the introduction of improved no-fishing zones around key breeding colonies, to protect the penguins’ foraging grounds. Robben Island (11km north-west of Cape Town) is one of the colonies.
