Threats of the African Penguin
1.5 million African Penguin population estimated in 1910, only some 10% remained at the end of the 20th-century. African penguin populations, which breed in Namibia and South Africa, have declined by 95 percent since preindustrial times. Global Climate is also affecting the Penguins prey abundance as well. The worst threat the African Penguin faced was on June 23, 2000, an iron ore tanker “MV Treasure” sank near the Robben Island, South Africa. 19,000 adult penguins were at the height of their breeding season on record. Global-warming-induced shifts in the marine and atmospheric environment are destructive to the African penguin’s habitat and comprise a major threat to the bird. Global warming also intensifies the other severe threats the species faces, including guano and egg collection at breeding colonies, oil pollution, and commercial fishing. Common threats of the African Penguin are Sharks, Cape fur Seals and Killer Whales.
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