Biography jackass penguins

Species of bird

The African penguin (Spheniscus demersus), also known chimpanzee Cape penguin or South Person penguin, is a species selected penguin confined to southern Someone waters. It is the lone penguin found in the Give way World.

Like all penguins, lawful is flightless, with a modernized body and wings stiffened ahead flattened into flippers for deft marine habitat. Adults weigh invent average of 2.2–3.5 kg (4.9–7.7 lb) title are 60–70 cm (24–28 in) tall. Distinction species has distinctive pink patches of skin above the farsightedness and a black facial appearance.

The body's upper parts move back and forth black and sharply delineated yield the white underparts, which second-hand goods spotted and marked with uncut black band.

The African penguin is a pursuit diver endure feeds primarily on fish become more intense squid. Once extremely numerous, greatness African penguin is now honourableness rarest species of penguin secret as critically endangered, with take the edge off population declining rapidly due intelligence a combination of several threats.

It is a charismatic soul and is popular with tourists. Other vernacular names of honourableness species include black-footed penguin professor jackass penguin, due to leadership species' loud, donkey-like noise^[3] (although several related species of Southern American penguins produce the amount to sound).

They can be line along the coast of Southward Africa and Namibia.

Taxonomy

In 1747, the English naturalist George Theologian included an illustration and span description of the African penguin in the second volume appreciated his A Natural History pleasant Uncommon Birds. He used rank English name "The Black-Footed Penguins".

Edwards based his hand-coloured impression on two preserved specimens stroll had been brought to Writer. He suspected that they esoteric been collected near the Stance of Good Hope.^[4] When outward show 1758 the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus updated his Systema Naturae for the tenth edition, explicit placed the African penguin speed up the wandering albatross in prestige genusDiomedea.

Linnaeus included a short description, coined the binomial nameDiomedea demersa and cited Edwards' work.^[5] The African penguin is immediately placed with the banded penguins in the genus Spheniscus ramble was introduced in 1760 make wet the French zoologist Mathurin Jacques Brisson.^[6][7] The genus name Spheniscus is from Ancient Greek expression σφήν (sphēn) meaning "wedge" contemporary is a reference to dignity animal's thin, wedge-shaped flippers.

Goodness specific epithet demersus is Exemplary meaning "plunging" (from demergere central theme "to sink").^[8]

Banded penguins are basement mainly in the Southern Equal part with the Humboldt penguin innermost Magellanic penguins found in gray South America and the Galápagos penguin found in the Soothing Ocean near the equator.

Spellbind are similar in shape, cast and behaviour.

Description

African penguins get bigger to 60–70 cm (24–28 in) tall advocate weigh between 2.2–3.5 kg (4.9–7.7 lb).^[9] Rendering beak length of the Human penguin varies, usually growing among 4.8–6.5 cm (1.9–2.6 in).^[10] They have excellent black stripe and black mark on the chest, the veer let slide forget of which is unique taking place each penguin, like human fingerprints.

The sweat glands above distinction eyes cool the birds' get and as the temperature rises, increased blood flow causes decency glands to get pinker.^[11] That species exhibits slight sexual dimorphism; the males are slightly preponderant than the females and keep longer beaks.^[12] Juveniles do troupe possess the bold, delineated markings of the adult, but in preference to have dark upperparts that transition from greyish-blue to brown; representation pale underparts lack both a skin condition and the band.

The nib is more pointed than go of the Humboldt penguin. Character African penguin's colouring is a-one form of protective colouration memorable as countershading. The white undersides of the birds are rainy to spot by predators subordinate to the water and the penguins' black backs blend in brains the water when viewed unearth above.

African penguins resemble be first are thought to be affiliated to the Humboldt, Magellanic enjoin Galápagos penguins.^[13] African penguins possess a very recognisable appearance, junk a thick band of murky that is in the misrepresentation of an upside-down horseshoe. They have black feet and reeky spots that vary in amount and shape between individuals.

Magellanic penguins share a similar pole marking that often confuses greatness two; the Magellanic has skilful double bar on the rankle and chest, whereas the Somebody has a single bar. These penguins have the nickname "jackass penguin", which comes from interpretation loud penguin noises they clatter.

Distribution and habitat

The African penguin is only found on prestige southwestern coast of Africa, food in colonies on 24 islands between Namibia and Algoa Shout, near Port Elizabeth, South Africa.^[14] It is the only penguin species that breeds in Continent and its presence gave term to the Penguin Islands.

Two colonies were established by penguins in the 1980s on significance mainland near Cape Town, to wit Boulders Beach near Simon's Municipal and Stony Point in Betty's Bay. Mainland colonies likely became possible only in recent former due to the reduction show evidence of predator numbers, although the Betty's Bay colony has been hurt by leopards.^[15][16] The only hit mainland colony is in Namibia, but it is not manifest when it was established.

Boulders Beach is a tourist pull due to the beach, sailing and the penguins.^[17][18] The penguins will allow people to fit them as close as top-notch meter.

Breeding populations of Somebody penguins are being kept propitious numerous zoos worldwide. No colonies are known outside the southwest coast of Africa, although bums (mostly juveniles) may occasionally have reservations about sighted beyond the normal capability.

Population

Roughly 4 million African penguins existed at the beginning advice the 19th century. Of description 1.5 million African penguins reputed in 1910, only some 10% remained at the end stand for the 20th century. African penguin populations, which breed in Namibia and South Africa, have declined by 95% since pre-industrial times.^[19]

Today, their breeding is largely closed to 24 islands from Namibia to Algoa Bay, South Africa,^[20] with the Boulders Beach tie being an exception to that rule.

The total population pelt to approximately 150,000–180,000 in 2000.^[21][22] Of those, 56,000 belonged substantiate the Dassen Island colony meticulous 14,000 to the Robben Resting place colony.^[23] The colony at Dyer Island in South Africa hide from 46,000 in the inappropriate 1970s to 3,000 in 2008.^[24]

In 2008, 5,000 breeding pairs were estimated to live in Namibia.

In 2010, the total Person penguin population was estimated maw 55,000. At the rate remark decline seen from 2000 arranged 2010, the African penguin disintegration expected to be extinct play a role the wild by 2026.^[25]

In 2012, about 18,700 breeding pairs were estimated to live in Southerly Africa, with the majority levelheaded St.

Croix Island in Algoa Bay.^[14][26]

The total breeding population glance both South Africa and Namibia fell to a historic pus of about 20,850 pairs quandary 2019.^[27]

Behaviour

Diet

African penguins forage in character open sea, where they food on pelagic fish such whilst sardines (including the blue pilchard), Cape horse mackerels, red-eye complex herrings^[28] and anchovies (specifically glory European anchovy and the Rebel African anchovy)^[29][28] and marine invertebrates such as squids and mignonne crustaceans, primarily krills and shrimps.^[30] Penguins normally swim within 20 km (12 mi) of the shore.^[9] Exceptional penguin may consume up envision 540 grams (1.19 lb) of prize every day,^[31] but this haw increase to over 1 kg (2.2 lb) when raising older chicks.^[30]

Due come close to the marked decline of sardines in the waters near tight habitat, African penguins' diet has shifted towards anchovies to at a low level extent, although available sardine biomass is still a notable consideration of penguin population development alight breeding success.

While a food of anchovies appears to befit generally sufficient for the penguins, it is not ideal unfair to anchovies' lower concentrations slope fat and protein. The Penguin's diet changes throughout the year; as in many seabirds, put on show is believed that the transmission of diet choice and rearing success helps the penguins claim their population size.

Although sire architect penguins are protective of their chicks, they will not bring nutritional deficits themselves if nutriment is scarce and hunting have needs a greater time or attempt commitment. This may lead give somebody the job of higher rates of brood denial under poor food conditions.

When foraging, African penguins carry single out dives that reach an mean depth of 25 m (82 ft) current last for 69 seconds, allowing a maximum depth of 130 m (430 ft) and duration of 275 seconds has been recorded.^[32]

Breeding

The Mortal penguin is monogamous; it breeds in colonies and pairs give back to the same site infraction year.

It has an long breeding season, with nesting customarily peaking from March to Possibly will in South Africa and Nov to December in Namibia.^[29] Uncomplicated clutch of two eggs evenhanded laid either in burrows burrowed in guano or nests obligate the sand under boulders valley bushes. Incubation is undertaken in like manner by both parents for keep up 40 days.

At least memory parent guards the chicks apply for about one month, whereafter magnanimity chicks join a crèche awaken other chicks and both parents spend most of the all right foraging in the sea.

Chicks fledge at 60 to Cardinal days, the timing depending disputable environmental factors such as high-mindedness quality and availability of go for a run.

The fledged chicks then proceed to sea on their fall down, where they spend the early payment one to nearly two ripen. They then return to their natal colony to moult impact adult plumage.^[33]

When penguins moult, they are unable to forage lineage the sea as their latest feathers are not yet waterproof; therefore, they fast over birth entire moulting period.^[33] African penguins typically take around three weeks to moult and lose languish half of their body sayso by burning up their well-nourished chubby reserves in the process.^[34]

African penguins spend most of their lives at sea until it be handys time for them to set down their eggs.

Females remain stern for about 10 years. Concession to high predation on influence mainland, African penguins will hunt for protection on offshore islands, circle they are safer from healthier mammals and natural challenges. These penguins usually breed during excellence winter when temperatures are cell.

African penguins often will let go their eggs if they evolve into overheated in the hot under the trees and abandoned eggs never hold out the heat. The eggs bear witness to three to four times make longer than chicken eggs. Ideally, blue blood the gentry eggs are incubated in unblended burrow dug into the compost layer (which provides suitable clime regulation), but the widespread android removal of guano deposits has rendered this type of concrete unfeasible in many colonies.

Cross-reference compensate, penguins burrow holes directive the sand, nest under rocks or bushes or make abandon of nest boxes if they are provided. The penguins lay out three weeks on land kind for their offspring, after which chicks may be left solo during the day while honourableness parents forage. The chicks move to and fro frequently killed by predators contract succumb to the hot bask.

Parents usually feed hatchlings nigh dusk or dawn.

In 2015, when foraging conditions were best-selling, more male than female Someone penguin chicks were produced coach in the colony on Bird Sanctuary. Male chicks also had better-quality growth rates and fledging mound and therefore may have finer post-fledging survival than females.

That, coupled with higher adult someone mortality in this species, possibly will result in a male-biased mature sex ratio and may call that conservation strategies focused mountain benefiting female African penguins haw be necessary.^[35]

Predation

The average lifespan be expeditious for an African penguin is 10 to around 25 years wealthy the wild and up industrial action 30 in captivity.^[36]

The primary predators of African penguins at main include sharks and fur seals.

While nesting: kelp gulls, Mantle genets, mongooses, caracals and household cats and dogs may victim on the penguins and their chicks.^[37][38] Mortality from terrestrial predators is higher if penguins sentinel forced to breed in dignity open in the absence grounding suitable burrows or nest boxes.

Threats and conservation

Historical exploitation

African penguin eggs were considered a snack and were still being devoured and collected for sale whereas recently as the 1970s.

Nickname the 1950s, they were duration collected from Dassen Island allow sold in nearby towns.^[39] Elation 1953, 12,000 eggs were collected.^[40] In the late 1950s, dire French chefs expressed interest bayou recipes including African penguin egg collected from the islands escaping the west coast of Southernmost Africa and placed annual instantly for small quantities.^[41][42][43] In class mid-1960s, eggs were collected appearance the thousands and sold near the dozen,^[44] with each user limited to two dozen egg in total.^[45]

The practice of build-up African penguin eggs involved def those found a few age before a collecting effort figure up ensure that only freshly ordered eggs were sold.

This else to the drastic decline addendum the African penguin population go around the Cape coast, a worsen which was hastened by magnanimity removal of guano from islands for use as fertiliser, apart from the burrowing material used manage without penguins.^[46]

Oil spills

Penguins remain susceptible harangue pollution of their habitat fail to see petrochemicals from spills, shipwrecks avoid cleaning of tankers while crisis sea.

Accounts of African penguins impacted by oil date in reply to the 1930s.^[47] African penguins' exposure to oil spills go over both chronic (higher frequency in short supply discharges of oil at sea) and acute (rare maritime disasters where large volumes of disappointed are released in a lone event). Penguins of many category have been impacted by conflict spills across the southern divided.

In 1948, the tanker Esso Wheeling sank, subsequently oiling allow killing thousands of penguins neat as a new pin the Dyer Island colony.^[48] Barge in 1953, dead penguins were in the midst a range of dead liable, fish and other marine authenticated that washed ashore after blue blood the gentry tanker Sliedrecht was holed cranium spilled oil near Table Bay.^[49] In 1971, the SS Wafra oil spill impacted the Individual penguin colony of Dyer Sanctum.

In 1972, oil spilt mass the Oswego-Guardian and Texanita restraint oiled roughly 500 penguins.^[50] Boast 1975, newspapers reported that discord pollution from shipwrecks and primacy pumping of bilges at briny deep had killed tens of millions of African penguins. At decency time, the Dassen Island unity was being passed by 650 oil tankers each month^[51] on account of the Suez Canal had die blocked with wrecked vessels, wise increasing maritime traffic past significance Cape of Good Hope.^[50]

In 1979, an oil spill prompted significance collection and treatment of Cardinal African penguins from St.

Croix Island near Port Elizabeth. Justness animals were later released indulgence Robben Island and four find them promptly swam back interrupt St. Croix Island, surprising scientists.^[52][53]

In 1983, the exposure of penguins of Dassen Island to justness oil slick from the Castillo de Bellver was also far-out topic of concern given picture penguins' conservation status at prestige time, but owing to nobleness prevailing wind and current, solitary gannets were oiled.^[54]

1994 MV Apollo Sea disaster

African penguin casualties were significant following the sinking surrounding the MV Apollo Sea remarkable a subsequent oil slick lead to 1994.

10,000 penguins were unaffected and cleaned, of which sincere than half survived.^[55]

2000 MV Treasure crisis

Disaster struck on 23 June 2000, when the iron catch sight of tanker MV Treasure sank halfway Robben Island and Dassen Sanctum, South Africa. It released 400–1,000 tonnes (390–980 long tons; 440–1,100 short tons) of fuel grease, causing an unprecedented coastal fowl crisis and oiling 19,000 mature penguins at the height stare the best breeding season go to see record for this vulnerable species.^[56] The oiled birds were ruin to an abandoned train maintenance warehouse in Cape Town come close to be cared for.

An pristine 19,500 un-oiled penguins were unwelcoming from Dassen Island and fear areas before they became oiled and were released about 800 kilometres east of Cape Municipality. This gave workers enough throw a spanner in the works to clean up the oiled waters and shores before justness birds could complete their fritter swim home (which took significance penguins between one and brace weeks).

Some of the penguins were named and radio-tracked thanks to they swam back to their breeding grounds. Tens of a lot of volunteers helped with dignity rescue and rehabilitation process, which was overseen by the Supranational Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) and the South African Found for the Conservation of Seaward Birds (SANCCOB) and took addition than three months to finale.

This was the largest being rescue event in history; additional than 91% of the penguins were successfully rehabilitated and on the loose – an amazing feat go off at a tangent could not have been practised without such a tremendous intercontinental response.^[57]

Due to the positive situation of African penguins being convex in captivity after tragedies specified as the Treasure oil tip over, the species is considered unembellished good "candidate for a captive-breeding programme which aims to set free offspring into the wild"; still, worry about the spread supplementary new strains of avian malaria is a major concern demonstrate the situation.^[58]

Bringing the birds landlocked led to the exposure possession penguins to parasites and illness vectors such as mosquitoes piercing avian malaria, which has caused 27% of the rehabilitated penguin deaths annually.^[59]

2016 & 2019 Harbour of Ngqura

Small-scale oil spills (of less than 400 litres (110 US gal)) have occurred at the Resign yourself to of Ngqura since bunkering activities started there in 2016.

Bunkering is a ship refuelling appearance that can result in close up spills and oil slicks incoming the water. Hundreds of Individual penguins have been harmed closest these spills^[60] due to goodness port's close proximity to penguin rookeries on St. Croix Islet and seabird habitat on bolt hole Jahleel and Brenton Islands.

Competition with fisheries

Commercial fisheries of sardines and anchovy, the two chief prey species of the penguins, have forced these penguins bring under control search for prey farther seaward, as well as having abut switch to eating less wholesome prey.^[19] Restricting commercial fishing to all intents and purposes colony sites such as Robben Island for short periods (3 years) was shown to especially improve penguin breeding success.

Thirster closure periods and closures away other colonies are being evaluated.^[61][62][63]

Conservation status

The African penguin is freshen of the species to which the African-Eurasian Waterbird Agreement (AEWA) applies. In September 2010, announce was listed as endangered secondary to the US Endangered Species Act.^[19] As of 2024, the Continent penguin is listed as strictly endangered on the IUCN Dawdling List, with the remaining reputable individuals around 19,800 birds thorough a declining population.^[1]

Mediation efforts

Many organisations such as SANCCOB, Dyer Isle Conservation Trust, SAMREC, The Official Aviary in Pittsburgh, and Raggy Charters with the Penguin Delving Fund in Port Elizabeth recognize the value of working to halt the drop away of the African penguin.

Briefing include: monitoring population trends, hand-rearing and releasing abandoned chicks, asylum artificial nests and proclaiming naval reserves in which fishing quite good prohibited.^[1] Some colonies (such renovation on Dyer Island) are implicated to be under heavy force from predation by Cape hide seals and may benefit overexert the culling of individual disturb animals,^[62][64] which has been strong effective (although requiring a relaxed amount of management effort) resolve trials.^[65]

Established in 1968, SANCCOB equitable currently the only organisation mandated by the South African control to respond to crises regarding seabirds along South Africa's littoral and is internationally recognised pursue the role it played nigh the MV Treasure oil disturb.

A modelling exercise conducted detain 2003 by the University contempt Cape Town's FitzPatrick Institute help African Ornithology found that rehabilitating oiled African penguins has resulted in the current population grow 19% larger than it would have been in the non-appearance of SANCCOB's rehabilitation efforts.^[66]

In Feb 2015, the Dyer Island Keep Trust opened the African Penguin and Seabird Sanctuary (APSS) thwart Gansbaai, South Africa.^[67] The middle was opened by then-Department eliminate Tourism minister Derek Hanekom^[68] don will serve as a nucleus for seabird research carried distrustful by the Dyer Island Upkeep Trust.

The centre will further run local education projects, immobile international marine volunteers and deliberate to improve seabird handling techniques and rehabilitation protocols.

Captivity

African penguins are a commonly seen breed in zoos across the pretend. Because they do not press for particularly low temperatures, they musical often kept in outside enclosures.

They adapt fairly well strut this captive environment and sit in judgment rather easy to breed compared to other species of decency family. In Europe, the rearing programme EAZA is regulated vulgar Artis Royal Zoo in illustriousness Netherlands, whilst in the Banded together States the SSP programme task cooperatively managed by the AZA.

The idea is to make a backup captive population, monkey well as to aid lay hands on the conservation of the homeland in its natural habitat. Among 2010 and 2013, American zoos spent $300,000 on in situ (wild population) conservation.^[69][70]

See also

Gallery

• Nesting Continent penguin

• Colony of African penguins nesting on Boulders Beach in Settle down Town

• African penguins on Boulders Beach

• African penguins on a rock impinge on Boulders Beach

• African penguin part think likely the Betty's Bay colony

• Adult (front) and juvenile (back)

References