African Penguin population

Factors affecting the African Penguin population

Penguins are quite sensitive to environmental changes and are considered to be an indicator species, meaning that the survival of these species can be related to the overall health of the ocean (R. Webber).


Figure 1: African Penguins being released back into the wild

The African penguin has been drawing closer to extinction since industrial fishing has started in the Cape. These ever-increasing fishing practices has resulted in increased competition for food sources between commercial fisheries and the African Penguins, as smaller fish such as sardine and anchovy are becoming scarce with the large masses of fish caught out of the oceans (R. Crawford).

The anchovy and sardine population, which make up the bulk of the African Penguin’s diet, are also decreasing due to rising sea temperatures linked to climate change (R. Webber). The abundance of these prey species are known to influence success, and may be too low to stimulate population equilibrium.

Figure 2: oiled penguins

Oil spills are another cause of death for the African Penguin in the Cape. Once covered in oil, the feathers of penguins are no longer waterproof so they do not survive (R. Webber).

Older causes of the decline in penguin numbers can be attributed to egg collecting, as well as to guano scrapping.

The role of the African Penguin in its environment

As with any other ecosystem or food chain, a change in the penguin population will result in an upset in the functionality of that ecosystem. The African penguin helps control the population of smaller fish and is a source of food for larger predators. The decreasing population of the African penguin will thus result in the over population of small fish, assuming there will be no excess human fishing practices, and also the death of larger predators which prey on the penguins.

Economic benefits of the African Penguin

There is a lack of public understanding of the social and economic benefits provided by the natural environment. African Penguins encourage tourism in South Africa as these penguins are endemic to South Africa. Tourism can provide many benefits ranging from conservation to reducing poverty in rural communities. Tourism also has a direct impact on the community as tourists spend money buying various African souvenirs as well as supporting surrounding businesses, whether it is food, clothes or toy shops etc. when the overall economy is proceeding well, foreign investors will also invest their money in South Africa, as it will be identified as a profitable market.