IUCN lists African Penguin as critically endangered

The African Penguin has been listed as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), marking a significant decline in its population.

The union has released its latest Red List of Threatened Species.

The African Penguin, which is unique to South Africa, has fewer than 8,750 breeding pairs remaining in the country, with their numbers decreasing by 8% each year.

CapeNature general manager, Petro van Rhyn, has also warned that the bird could vanish from the wild by 2035.

"If we do not act now, we may face a future without African Penguins in the wild. The Penguin Palooza showcases to present and future generations the importance of penguins to the environment and local communities."