“African Penguin relaxing in Boulders Bea” (CC BY 2.0) by Nick Perretti

The African Penguin (Spheniscus demersus) is Endangered on the IUCN Red List due to a recent, rapid decline in numbers. Over a 28 year period it has moved from an original status as threatened to a current status as endangered.

Kunst, S. Red list status of the African Penguin. Data source: iucn.org

The largest decline occurred between 2001 and 2013 when greater than 70% of the global population was lost (Sherley, R.B., et al. 2014). This loss correlated with a change in sardine and anchovy due to commercial fishing near the penguin’s largest breeding colonies in the Western Cape of South Africa.

Sherley, R.B., et al. (2014) Map of the Western Cape, South Africa, showing the locations of the main African penguin breeding colonies (black circles) mentioned in the text and the location of SANCCOB (black square) in relation to Cape Town (white circle). CC BY 4.0

Penguin breeding success is largely a function of fish availability. Without enough fish, chicks starve or exhibit a slow rate of growth. The problem with starvation is obvious. But, why is slow growth a problem?

Adult penguins must molt once a year. During a molt, feathers are not waterproof so the penguin must stay dry and unable to forage for food. The average molt requires a penguin to fast for a period of 21 days. Chicks will starve to death during this time. Sherley, R.B., et al. (2014) investigated whether raising chicks abandoned due to molting parents could be a viable option to save chicks from starvation.

This conservation technique (known as wildlife rehabilitation) was previously used to save chicks whose parents were the victims of oil spills. SANCCOB, the center where the penguin chicks were rehabilitated, produced this video to educate people on the benefits of their work.

In their investigation, Sherley, R.B., et al. found that this method also works for chicks abandoned due to molting. Rehabilitation successfully occurred in 91% of 841 chicks rescued in 2006 and 73% of 481 chicks rescued in 2007. Mark-recapture methods were used to track the survival of the released birds.

The method used is not without its limitations. Overcrowding in rehabilitation centers may lead to pathogens spreading to wild populations. However, appropriate veterinary practices can reduce the risk.

Peer-Reviewed Works Cited

Sherley RB, Waller LJ, Strauss V, Geldenhuys D, Underhill LG, Parsons NJ (2014) Hand-Rearing, Release and Survival of African Penguin Chicks Abandoned Before Independence by Moulting Parents. PLoS ONE 9(10): e110794. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0110794