# African Penguin Fact Sheet

Audience: Teachers, learners, families  
Age range: 8+

## Quick Facts

- African penguins are endemic to southern Africa.
- They depend heavily on small pelagic fish, including sardines and anchovies.
- Conservation organizations announced in October 2024 that the species had been reassessed as Critically Endangered.
- Public updates in 2024 reported fewer than 10,000 breeding pairs remaining across South Africa and Namibia.

## Main Threats

Food scarcity, fishing pressure near colonies, climate-driven prey shifts, loss of nesting habitat, oil pollution, disease, extreme heat, and human disturbance all affect recovery.

## What Helps

Protected feeding zones, safe nesting habitat, rescue capacity, monitoring, responsible tourism, and public policy accountability all support recovery.