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African “Jackass” Penguin

The African penguin is the only penguin species native to Africa and is famous for its loud, braying call — earning it the nickname “the jackass penguin.”

 

Found along the coastlines of southern Africa, African penguins stand about 45 centimeters (17.7 inches) tall. They have a sleek black-and-white coat with a distinctive horseshoe-shaped band on their chest and a pattern of black spots on their belly that is unique to each individual. Excellent swimmers, they use their flippers to “fly” underwater and hunt for small fish like sardines and anchovies, along with squid and crustaceans. Because the climate they live in is so warm, African penguins will often seek refuge from the heat in the water or in the burrows where they live. 

These social birds live in colonies that can be huge — over 22,600 breeding pairs! They dig their burrows in sand or guano — aka penguin poop — but also nest in open areas if guano is not available. Pairs will mate for life, and each year they share the duties of incubating two eggs and feeding their chicks until they fledge. To communicate in their noisy colonies, these penguins use a variety of vocalizations including braying, hawing, and yelling. Each of these different sounds can be used for attracting potential partners or defending territory from rival encroachment!

 

 

African penguins face multiple severe threats that have caused their numbers to plummet by over 80% in the last 30 years and led to them being listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List. Lack of food presents a major problem for African penguins. Commercial fishers compete with these birds for small fish, leaving them without enough to eat. Climate change has also shifted where their prey is usually found, also depleting the amount of food they can find. Pollution from oil spills is also a concern for African penguins, as being oiled can kill penguins and exposure to the toxins in oil can lead to lower breeding success.

 

 

Despite their populations declining, recovery measures can help these penguins bounce back. Protected areas have already shown how effective these measures can be in giving the species a chance to rebound. Ensuring responsible fishing along Africa’s southern coast is especially important, as these penguins rely on healthy fish populations to survive. Around the world, Oceana continues to work to reduce overfishing and rebuild ocean abundance — including in forage fish species like the ones African penguins depend on to survive.

 

 

 

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