21 thoughts on “African Penguin (Spheniscus demersus)”
Fine, except also emphasized is the fact that penguins have an especially challenged energy budget, owing to their near total immersion in the cold ocean and a relatively poor (compared to aerial birds) capability of finding prey. Moreover, the eastern boundary current in which they exist, as with other EBCs, has very few islands, which the species needs for breeding. Therefore, it is the limit of nesting sites that is also contributing to the species’ plight, exacerbated by the shift in prey schools and the reduced foraging range of the the penguin (compared to aerial birds).
I support this proposal and agree that the species should be listed as Critically Endangered, given the dramatic population decreases over the past few decades.
BirdLife South Africa supports this genuine change in status. We also support the acknowledgement of the significance of food availability to African Penguins and the role this has played in the decrease in numbers. We highlight the importance of increasing the availability of prey for penguins around their breeding colonies through closed areas as one of the ways to mitigate the threat of a lack of available prey. In the text, under the justification section for Locations in the Geographic range section, a correction should be made. No-take zones have been implemented around six of the largest remaining colonies in South Africa. However, the efficacy of those zones at reducing resource competition has been questioned by conservationists as they were not delineated using the best available methods, as suggested by an expert panel brought in to review the scientific basis for establishing the zones.
Three locations were used in the Green Status assessment and could be applied here as well. These locations are: southern Namibia, Western Cape and Eastern Cape.
In South Africa, HPAI did not cause mass mortality events as was seen in Namibia (and in other parts of the world for other seabird species more recently). Thus, it seems unlikely that HPAI caused the current rapid rate of decline.
Agree with the current proposal for a change in status based on the genuine rapid rate of population decline, with reduced food availability being a major driver. Indeed, it seems that this species is currently facing the ‘perfect storm’, brought about by a combination of various unfavourable conditions and stochastic events.
Many thanks to everyone who has contributed to this discussion. We greatly appreciate the time and effort invested in commenting. The window for consultation is now closed and we are unable to accept any more comments until 3 May 2024. We will now analyse and interpret all information, and we will post a preliminary decision on this species’ Red List status on this page on 3 May 2024, when discussions will re-open.
Thanks to all contributors for their comments to this discussion. Based on available information, our preliminary proposal for the 2024 Red List would be to adopt the proposed classifications outlined in the initial forum discussion.
There is now a period for further comments until the final deadline on 13 May 2024, after which the recommended categorisations will be put forward to IUCN.
The final 2024 Red List categories will be published on the BirdLife and IUCN websites in October 2024, following further checking of information relevant to the assessments by both BirdLife and IUCN.
Based on our own observations of the reduced number of African Penguins being admitted for rehabilitation and their state, as well as the ongoing research and monitoring that has been done, Tenikwa Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre would support the proposed recommended IUCN categorisation of the African Penguin to Critically Endangered
I agree with the evaluation and the change to Critically Endangered. As mentioned above, HPAI has caused limited mortality in South Africa between 2018 and 2023 (in total about 500 penguins) which can not explain the overall decline of the species. The mass die-off in Namibia was limited to one island (Halifax Island) and does not explain the dramatic decline on all breeding colonies in Namibia. However, numbers of breeding pairs on Halifax have not recovered from the mortality event in 2019. Other Namibian colonies did not have large mortalities from HPAI and the decline is driven by other factors, including lack of prey, predation and climate change.
Fine, except also emphasized is the fact that penguins have an especially challenged energy budget, owing to their near total immersion in the cold ocean and a relatively poor (compared to aerial birds) capability of finding prey. Moreover, the eastern boundary current in which they exist, as with other EBCs, has very few islands, which the species needs for breeding. Therefore, it is the limit of nesting sites that is also contributing to the species’ plight, exacerbated by the shift in prey schools and the reduced foraging range of the the penguin (compared to aerial birds).
I support this uplisting – sadly
I support this proposal and agree that the species should be listed as Critically Endangered, given the dramatic population decreases over the past few decades.
The list of the African penguin as critically endandered is fully suported.
In definite agreement and support this proposal.
We agree with the updated analyses and the proposal that the African penguin be listed as critically endangered.
I support the listing of the African penguin as Critically Endangered.
I am in agreement and I support this proposal.
I agree and support the proposal for the African penguin to be listed as critically endangered.
Long overdue. Desperately needed, yesterday already.
Strongly supporting the urgent uplisting of the African Penguin to Critically Endangered
BirdLife South Africa supports this genuine change in status. We also support the acknowledgement of the significance of food availability to African Penguins and the role this has played in the decrease in numbers. We highlight the importance of increasing the availability of prey for penguins around their breeding colonies through closed areas as one of the ways to mitigate the threat of a lack of available prey. In the text, under the justification section for Locations in the Geographic range section, a correction should be made. No-take zones have been implemented around six of the largest remaining colonies in South Africa. However, the efficacy of those zones at reducing resource competition has been questioned by conservationists as they were not delineated using the best available methods, as suggested by an expert panel brought in to review the scientific basis for establishing the zones.
Three locations were used in the Green Status assessment and could be applied here as well. These locations are: southern Namibia, Western Cape and Eastern Cape.
In South Africa, HPAI did not cause mass mortality events as was seen in Namibia (and in other parts of the world for other seabird species more recently). Thus, it seems unlikely that HPAI caused the current rapid rate of decline.
Agree with the current proposal for a change in status based on the genuine rapid rate of population decline, with reduced food availability being a major driver. Indeed, it seems that this species is currently facing the ‘perfect storm’, brought about by a combination of various unfavourable conditions and stochastic events.
I agree and support the proposal that the African Penguin be uplisted to Critically Endangered.
I agree with the updated assessment and the proposed category (and associated criteria) of Critically Endangered for the African penguin.
Many thanks to everyone who has contributed to this discussion. We greatly appreciate the time and effort invested in commenting. The window for consultation is now closed and we are unable to accept any more comments until 3 May 2024. We will now analyse and interpret all information, and we will post a preliminary decision on this species’ Red List status on this page on 3 May 2024, when discussions will re-open.
Preliminary proposal
Thanks to all contributors for their comments to this discussion. Based on available information, our preliminary proposal for the 2024 Red List would be to adopt the proposed classifications outlined in the initial forum discussion.
There is now a period for further comments until the final deadline on 13 May 2024, after which the recommended categorisations will be put forward to IUCN.
The final 2024 Red List categories will be published on the BirdLife and IUCN websites in October 2024, following further checking of information relevant to the assessments by both BirdLife and IUCN.
Based on our own observations of the reduced number of African Penguins being admitted for rehabilitation and their state, as well as the ongoing research and monitoring that has been done, Tenikwa Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre would support the proposed recommended IUCN categorisation of the African Penguin to Critically Endangered
I agree that the African Penguin should be reclassified as critically endangered.
Given the supporting evidence, I agree with the revised evaluation and the suggested classification of Critically Endangered for the African penguin.
I agree with the evaluation and the change to Critically Endangered. As mentioned above, HPAI has caused limited mortality in South Africa between 2018 and 2023 (in total about 500 penguins) which can not explain the overall decline of the species. The mass die-off in Namibia was limited to one island (Halifax Island) and does not explain the dramatic decline on all breeding colonies in Namibia. However, numbers of breeding pairs on Halifax have not recovered from the mortality event in 2019. Other Namibian colonies did not have large mortalities from HPAI and the decline is driven by other factors, including lack of prey, predation and climate change.