Those were two oil spills since 1990 which has oiled and killed 30,000 African Penguins. March 29, 2016.

The African penguin (Spheniscus demersus), also known as the Cape penguin, and South African penguin, is a species of penguin confined to southern African waters. U nless we mitigate the causes and threats to their survival, this amazing species is going to be gone in the wild. African Penguin Endangered (IUCN); Endangered (US Endangered Species Act) AZA facilities have joined forces to develop various projects, from improving disaster response protocols for oil spills to constructing artificial nests in order to address population declines caused by overfishing, habitat degradation, and oil spills. Derivation of scientific name. As well, different types and regions, different characteristics.

African Penguins Facing Extinction. Penguins are a family of 17 to 19 species of birds that live primarily in the Southern Hemisphere.

Penguins bond and mate for life, and they need a safe place to raise their families. The African penguin is under strict protection, for it is endangered with an annual decline rate of 2% per year. Beyond our AZA SAFE commitment, Shedd is offering hands-on help to this species in need. African Penguin. The genus name Spheniscus is derived from the ancient Greek word sphen, which means wedge, referring to the streamlined body shape of the African penguin.The species name demersus is Latin meaning plunging or sinking, referring to its diving behaviour.The common name ’jackass’ refers to its call, which sounds similar to that of a donkey, even … Like all extant penguins, it is flightless, with a streamlined body, and wings stiffened and flattened into flippers for a marine habitat.

An updated plan by the Environmental Affairs Department to halt the rapid decline of the birds in the wild is now open for public comment. “African Penguins have been sliding towards extinction since industrial fishing started around the Cape. The African penguin nest project is live on Facebook. There are other reasons that the African penguin's numbers are dwindling. In December and January, members of Shedd’s Animal Response Team, sponsored by Dawn, were in Cape Town, where they helped the staff of the South African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds, or SANCCOB, rehabilitate some of the 500 starving African penguin … The African penguin lives it’s every day life facing the constant threat of extinction. Like all extant penguins, it is flightless, with a streamlined body, and wings stiffened and flattened into flippers for a marine habitat. A Global Indicator Species . African penguins have a … African penguin declared Endangered The African penguin has been shifted from Vulnerable to Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, Birdlife International announced. African penguins are an endangered species that live along the rocky coastal beaches of southern Africa. The African penguin (Spheniscus demersus), also known as the Cape penguin, and South African penguin, is a species of penguin confined to southern African waters. One fundamental cause is that there is overfishing where they live, and which means that they can locate food without problems because fish is their number one food. It is almost time for African Penguin Awareness Day. The African Penguin (Spheniscus demersus) is found in nature in the oceans of Southern Africa and nowhere else. There could actually be a world without African penguins! I am going to see this species become extinct. Since the 1920s, more than a million breeding pairs of African penguins inhabiting our coast have shrunk to a population of fewer than 18 000 pairs.

It's World Penguin Day, and as part of Penguin Week, we need to talk about how the choices we are all making at the supermarket are leading to the extinction of Africa's remaining penguins.... No, your local grocery store is not selling penguin meat. By Arnold Ras. Despite their apparent ubiquity and undeniable cute factor, the African Penguin is in trouble.