A lot can happen in ten years.
In July 2017, I finally had the opportunity to see a species that was high on my wish list. After what felt like a lifetime of birding, I traveled to Cape Town for a conference and was able to fit in some birding while in the province.
One of our first stops upon arriving was the famous Boulders Beach. I was traveling with non-birders, but even they were excited to see the species I was after. My heart started to beat a little faster as we pulled into the parking lot.
As we got out of the car, local traders had their blankets laid out with beaded memorabilia of the famous species—African Penguin souvenirs everywhere. We walked past the vendors, each one trying to entice us to buy a keepsake.
Even on a weekday afternoon, the parking lot was packed with people, many there to see what we had come for. We walked along the boardwalk that wound through the rocks. I felt like a young child on Christmas morning, looking all around and hoping to catch my first glimpse of a species I had dreamed of seeing for so long. Finally, they appeared—tucked behind the rocks, trying to protect their young chicks. This was a moment I later shared with another birder when taking them to the Cape before the last Flock to Marion Cruise: that unforgettable first sighting of an African Penguin.
Seeing African Penguins isn’t just something that excites birders; even non-birders, people who may have felt disconnected from nature for much of their lives, get excited to see this special species. What makes these penguins so captivating? Perhaps it’s the sense of connection we feel with them. Like us, they don’t soar in the skies; they stand upright, moving among us with an elegance that evokes a tuxedo fit for royalty. They’re big enough to notice, and in certain places, they come close enough to us that a unique bond is forged. In many ways, they serve as ambassadors for the avian world—they’re noticeable enough to engage us yet small enough to melt even the hardest hearts. When you spend time with them, they seem to have a personality that draws us in on a deeper level.
But as I said, a lot can happen in ten years.
Just two days ago, we received the devastating news that the African Penguin, the continent’s only penguin species, has been uplisted to Critically Endangered by the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature). The global population of African Penguins fell below 10,000 breeding pairs for the first time in 2023, after losing over 97% of its population in less than a century. The IUCN attributes this rapid decline to “an extremely rapid population decline, probably principally because of the impacts of competition with commercial fisheries and climate-mediated shifts in prey populations.”
With fewer than 10,000 breeding pairs remaining, the species could be extinct in the wild by 2035 without urgent action.
Like I said a lot can happen in ten years.
Imagine Boulders Beach without penguins. Young children would only hear stories of the species we once adored. The local vendors who rely on tourists would struggle to sell penguin-themed art to visitors unable to connect with a species that no longer exists.
But there is still hope. We can make a difference. By adding our voices and resources, we can fight to save this iconic African species. Here are two ways you can help:
1. Sign this petition to help save the African Penguin - click here
2. Donate to BirdLife South Africa, supporting their efforts to conserve this species - click here
Please share this article as widely and help raise awareness of the African Penguin's plight. Together, we can help ensure these incredible birds continue to grace our shores for generations to come.
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