African Penguin Awareness Day -- Why it's needed and how you can help
Sophie Plants, digital illustration
Penguins live where?
Growing up, my understanding of penguins was built upon misinformation. The most glaring of all was the image of penguins frolicking at the North Pole with Santa and his elves. Contrary to what Hallmark and Coca Cola might portray, penguins don't even live in the northern hemisphere, much less the North Pole. In fact, the concept of penguins as strictly cold weather creatures ignores three fourths of the penguin species!
So you can understand why African Penguin Awareness Day (the 2nd Saturday of October) is needed. If you hadn't guessed by their name, African penguins can be found on the warm, sandy beaches of Namibia and South Africa. However, their geology is the only aspect that needs awareness. These warm weather birds are in peril.
Penguins in peril
Since the start of the 20th century, African penguin populations have declined by 99%. They've been listed as Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). If nothing changes, it's feared that African penguins will become extinct in the wild by 2035.
The primary threat to African penguins is food scarcity, and it has a number of causes. The main diet of an African penguin consists of sardines and cape anchovies, two fish that are also in high demand with the commercial fishing industry. A second contributor to food scarcity is climate change. It's suspected that when seawater temperatures change, fish populations shift their location, putting them further away from nesting penguins. Penguins traveling further to feed often abandon their nests-- and the eggs and chicks within.
It's a hard life for an African penguin. Other man-made threats include oil spills, discarded fishing nets, and habitat destruction. In the past they were even hunted for their oil, feathers, skin and eggs. There are natural threats too, from predators like gulls and feral cats and dogs, to diseases such as avian influenza. Is it any wonder they're Endangered?
Hope on the horizon
Fortunately, organizations such as SANCCOB and SAAMBR are taking measures to protect the penguins, from immediate action -- rehabilitating injured or oiled penguins, rearing abandoned chicks -- to long term research and education. There are ways we can help as well.
Take action!
Eat sustainably!
Livestock are often fed on fishmeal made of anchovies. Eating less meat can preserve the penguin food supply.
Check the SASSI list for sustainably harvested seafood.
Look for the blue MSC label when purchasing fish at the supermarket.
Avoid single-use plastic
Discarded plastic often gets into the water supply and can become tangled or ingested. Microplastics in the water can contaminate the food supply.
Use a reusable shopping bag or waterbottle.
If you must use single-use plastic, be sure to recycle.
Reduce your carbon footprint
Reducing your carbon footprint can reduce climate change.
Buy energy efficient appliances.
Turn off lights and appliances when not in use.
When possible, walk or ride a bike instead of driving.
Support penguin conservation organizations such as:
In honor of African Penguin Awareness Day, I'm running a fundraiser. With Postcards for Penguins, you can support African Penguins and receive a one-of-a-kind piece of original art. The fundraiser only runs through October 31st so be sure to check it out!
