African Penguins on the Brink of Extinction: 60,000 Have Died Due to Fish Shortage.

According to ТСН: More than 60,000 African penguins have died due to the exhaustion caused by the drastic decline in the sardine population off the coast of South Africa. A new study has found that a combination of climate change and intensive industrial fishing has had catastrophic consequences: Two main colonies on Dassen and Robben Islands lost more than 95% of their birds between 2004 and 2012.

Scientists point out that penguins are particularly vulnerable during molting, which lasts about three weeks. During this time, they cannot hunt and rely solely on their stored food reserves. Due to the lack of food, many birds did not survive this phase. Researchers suspect that the majority of the deceased penguins died at sea, as there have not been massive findings of their bodies.

Decline of the Sardine Population

According to the magazine Ostrich: Journal of African Ornithology, the decline of the sardine population Sardinops sagax in the region has a systemic magnitude: Since 2004, their biomass has decreased almost every year, dropping to about 25% of the maximum values. The deterioration of the situation is caused by changes in temperature and salinity of the coastal waters, which negatively affects the fish's spawning, as well as high levels of industrial fishing, which have only exacerbated the crisis.

The State of African Penguins

In 2024, African penguins were officially listed as an endangered species. In the wild, there are fewer than 10,000 pairs capable of breeding.

To save the species, conservationists are expanding protection programs: they install artificial nests, protect colonies from predators, and rescue weakened chicks in specialized rehabilitation centers. Additionally, a ban on industrial sardine fishing has been implemented near the six largest colonies to provide the birds with access to food.

Critical Situation

Nevertheless, scientists warn: the situation remains critical. Scientist Lorien Pichegru from Nelson Mandela University emphasizes that the data from the study only extends to 2011, and subsequent observations show no significant improvements. In her opinion, urgent measures are needed to restore small fish stocks — not only for the sake of the penguins but also for the preservation of entire marine ecosystems.

We would like to remind that near the 'Vernadsky' station, the first penguin chick has recently hatched. This is quite an early hatching of the first offspring of the subantarctic penguins on Galindez Island.