Save African Penguins

Once abundant along the wild coasts of South Africa and Namibia, the African penguin is now perilously close to disappearing forever. With 97 per cent of its population lost, fewer than 10,000 breeding pairs remain and in 2024 this iconic seabird was formally uplisted to Critically Endangered. If nothing changes, we could witness its extinction within our own lifetime. 

Overfishing of the penguins’ primary food sources  – sardines and anchovies – has left them starving and struggling to breed. Climate change is shifting fish distributions, storms are flooding nests, and noise from coastal development is disrupting their natural behaviour. Oil spills, predation and habitat disturbances add further strain. Breeding success has collapsed. The International Union for Conservation of Nature now lists the species as facing extremely rapid population decline.  

In 2025 a collaborative Blue Marine campaign brought hope in the form of a landmark legal breakthrough. Working with our partners at the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds and BirdLife SA, which had already lodged a legal challenge with the South African government, we launched #SaveAfricanPenguins. 

The campaign was led by celebrated South African ocean storyteller Zandile Ndhlovu, and set out to reveal the plight of the penguin, capturing hearts and minds across the country and around the world. Our aim was to compel the South African government to reconsider its position on six proposed areas of protection along the coastline where penguins breed, feed and raise their young.  

To reconnect people with the birds themselves, we deliberately sought to humanise the species, spotlighting their monogamy, their tender lifelong partnerships and their place in South Africa’s cultural identity. A Valentine’s Day activation – ‘Penguin Love in Peril’ –captured the imagination of the world’s media. 

Polling commissioned by Blue Marine revealed that 82 per cent of South Africans would vote for leaders who commit to protecting endangered species. The message was unmistakable, the public wanted action. Influencers and public figures, including South African cricketer Rassie van der Dussen, helped amplify the call, contributing to a press reach exceeding 2.2 billion through hundreds of stories worldwide. Our public petition on OnlyOne surged past 40,000 signatures, adding momentum in the crucial weeks before our partners’ court deadline. 

In March 2025, after months of coordinated effort, a breakthrough arrived. Just days before its court date, the South African government agreed to settle. It committed to the implementation of fishing closures around six major penguin breeding colonies, safeguarding waters essential to 76 per cent of the global population. It was one of the most meaningful protections the species has ever secured and a testament to relentless, united campaigning, powered by public pressure.