#NotOnOurWatch At their current rate of decline, African penguins will be functionally extinct in the wild within 20 years. Functional extinction occurs when there are such low numbers of penguins that genetic diversity and resilience are impossible, leading to the inability to rebuild the species. By 2035, some colonies which have thrived on the South African coastline for hundreds of years will be no more. African penguins are an indicator species, a sentinel of the health of our ocean ecosystems. The health of the penguin colonies is a direct reflection of the health of their habitat, which in today’s climate is rapidly declining. African penguins are a cornerstone of South African tourism, with the colony in Boulders Beach generating over R300 million in 2018 and benefitting 48 local businesses. Since 1979, when the first count of the major South African colonies was conducted, the breeding population has declined from ~55 200 to ~10 000 breeding pairs in 2022. Without immediate action, a future without African penguins in the wild is certain. 📻 93.6fm | 💻 helderbergfm.co.za | 📱 WhatsApp 021 100 6936
