The IUCN uplists the African Penguin to Critically Endangered: Urgent call for action by NAMCOB to save a species from extinction.

Penguin Awareness Day
Penguin Awareness Day

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 20, 2025

Lüderitz, NAMIBIA – The African Penguin, one of Namibia’s most iconic seabirds, and Africa’s only penguin species, endemic to Namibia and South Africa, has been officially classified as “Critically Endangered” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and is now only one step away from being extinct in the wild. With the breeding population across Namibia and South Africa plummeting to dangerously low levels, under 10,000 breeding pairs for the first time in history, the world is calling for immediate action to save this cherished species from extinction.

According to Rob Martin, the Senior Red List Officer at BirdLife International: “New data from virtually the entire range of the African Penguin shows a shocking acceleration of decline. Listing a species as Critically Endangered means it has an extremely high risk of extinction. Urgent conservation work must be done to prevent the very real chance of losing African Penguins from the wild.”

 

The African Penguin population has declined by 97% of its original population, with only approximately 1,200 breeding pairs remaining within the Namibian Islands’ Marine Protected Area. Threats include collapsed fish stocks, habitat degradation, predation, disease and climate change, which have severely impacted the African Penguin population. Industrial competition of small pelagic fish, the species’ primary food sources, has pushed African Penguins to the brink of extinction. The African Penguin, beloved by both locals and international visitors is one of the most iconic species in Southern Africa that hold intrinsic value.

Urgent and coordinated action is required to save this iconic and charismatic species. The African penguin now joins other critically endangered species on our continent such as the Black Rhino.

 

Angus Middleton, Chairman of NAMCOB, emphasized the urgent plight of penguins signaling a wider ecosystem concern, stating, “The penguins are in a very perilous state. As one of the sentinels of our oceans they are signaling that we are not managing our local marine environment holistically enough and we need to change this in order to arrest the situation.”

 

Increasing Protection and Sustainable Practices

Located within Namibia’s only marine protected area, the Namibian Islands Marine Protected Area (NIMPA), efforts are underway to update the NIMPA’s regulations, aiming to enhance the conservation of this critical and ecologically significant region.

 

NAMCOB along with partners share deep concerns for the future of African Penguins and are committed to robust conservation initiatives to halt the decline of the species. NAMCOB staff support the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources to monitor populations and transport injured or sick seabirds to the rehabilitation center. Together with researchers and tertiary institutions, NAMCOB is collecting data to better understand and possibly address threats. Furthermore, MFMR has implemented a moratorium on the commercial fishing of sardines, to allow for its recovery.

 

To date, two oiled wildlife response containers strategically located in Lüderitz and Oranjemund as part of Namibia’s Tier1 preparedness in the event of an oil spill. Careful monitoring of African penguin is achieved by the deployment of dedicated Penguin & Seabird Rangers, based on penguin colonies. These rangers are employed by NAMCOB to support the MFMR to achieve its mandate. A network of first responders has been identified and undergone theoretical training on seabird rescue and stabilisation. With the responsibility of responding to seabird emergencies along the Namibian coast and transporting seabirds to the rehabilitation center in Lüderitz for care and release to the wild.

 

Through support from Debmarine-Namdeb Foundation Emergency Response Units have been established for seabirds in Lüderitz and Oranjemund marking a vital step in enhancing our preparedness for large-scale events that could threaten marine life, including seabirds.  NAMCOB and its founding members aim to build a state-of-the-art seabird rehabilitation facility in Lüderitz. This initiative will be instrumental in supporting the Namibia’s efforts and advancing seabird research, rehabilitation, and conservation.

 

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Official opening of Lüderitz container

 

 Call for Collaboration and Community Support

The plight of the African Penguin reflects the broader crisis facing global marine biodiversity.

Desmond Tom, Senior Fisheries Biologist at the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources, emphasized the urgent need to enhance efforts in African Penguin conservation. “As the government, we have to strengthen our efforts by working with NGOs and experts in the field like never before,” he stated. Highlighting factors contributing to the species' decline, Tom outlined solutions including fast-tracking and reviewing seabird legislation (NPOA-Seabirds), advancing NIMPA management plans, improving enforcement laws, finalizing Marine Pollution Contingency Plans, monitoring seal predation through Problem Animal Control (PAC) training, refining HPAI protocols, and introducing artificial nests to improve penguin habitats on affected islands.

NAMCOB urges the public and the international community to join in raising awareness, sharing information, and supporting conservation initiatives. By taking these steps, NAMCOB believes Namibia can help restore African Penguin populations and foster a more balanced and healthier marine environment.

 

About NAMCOB

NAMCOB is a non-profit organization dedicated to seabird rescue, rehabilitation, and advocacy. NAMCOB’s mission is to protect Namibia’s seabird populations and promote a sustainable marine ecosystem through conservation, research, and community engagement.

For more information or to get involved, visit www.namcob.org.na or contact info@namcob.org.na