CAPE TOWN, April 25 (Xinhua) -- South Africa marked World Penguin Day on Saturday with renewed warnings over the decline of the critically endangered African penguin.
The species, scientifically known as Spheniscus demersus, was uplisted as "Critically Endangered" in 2024 on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, reflecting a sharp population decline across southern Africa.
In a statement, the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB) said the day is a reminder that protecting the African penguin is "not just a moment," but a daily commitment.
The organization recently returned eight African penguins to the Boulders Beach Penguin Colony in Cape Town after completing their rehabilitation journey.
"The African penguin is facing extinction in the wild within our lifetime, but there is still hope through collective action," it said.
Meanwhile, the Cape Town city government said that, while the world honors all 18 species of these flightless icons, the day is also a reminder that the African penguin is now among the most "at-risk" populations globally.
"The city joins this year's World Penguin Day celebrations with trepidation and worry. Following the African penguin's 2024 uplisting to Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, there are now fewer than 10,000 breeding pairs left," said Mayoral Committee Member for Spatial Planning and Environment Eddie Andrews.
He added that the City of Cape Town continues to invest in a dedicated Penguin Ranger Team, a partnership project with SANCCOB, to combat these threats.
