With iconic sights like witnessing the waddling of tuxedo-styled birds on Boulders Beach, the African Penguin is an important symbol and wildlife species of South Africa.
Unsplash/Joshua Kettle
On Monday, 28 October, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) announced the new status of the African Penguin.
The Groundup has reported that this organisation has deemed it appropriate to classify the African Penguin as critically endangered for various reasons. The IUCN states factors such as:
“…an extremely rapid population decline, probably principally because of the impacts of competition with commercial fisheries and climate-mediated shifts in prey populations”.
As their population declined by a whopping 97% over the years, their new status is no surprise. Various conservation groups, such as Conservation at the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB) and BirdLife SA, have called for immediate action to ensure this species does not become extinct.
ALSO READ: 10 endangered animals in South Africa and how you can help
They are supporting the implementation of safety measures and procedures to combat the battle of the African Penguin population decline. IOL has stated that the conservation programme manager at BirdLife South Africa, Alistair McInnes, has noted the following:
“…the availability of sardine and anchovy is the key driver of the African Penguin population and the sustainable management of purse-seine fishing, such as the implementation of effective no-take zones around the last remaining large colonies, is a critical intervention to help conserve this species.”
ALSO READ: 4 ways you can help save the African Penguin
Follow us on social media for more travel news, inspiration, and guides. You can also tag us to be featured.
TikTok | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
