The African Penguin Simonstown
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The penguin colonies inhabiting the coastal islands and beaches of the Cape South Africa were previously known as "Jackass" penguins due to the braying sound they make. However these flightless birds have now been named "African" penguins because they are different in their appearance and behavior to the original Jackass penguin which is to be found in South America.
The African Penguin is one of seventeen species inhabiting the coastal regions of various countries around the world and it is the only species which is indigenous to Africa and its coastal islands. Penguins evolved many millions of years ago and are thought to have originated at the end of the dinosaur era. Their lifespan is generally 10-12 years, they reach 50cm in height and weigh up to 4 kgs. They are powerful acrobatic swimmers using their short wings as fins to propel them through the water and their webbed feet to paddle when floating.
African Penguins are distinguished by a black curve of feathers which spans their upper body. They have adapted to cold weather and one of the ways in which they cope with the warmth of the Cape summer is by 'moulting' or loosing their feathers. This takes place each year at the time of the Cape Spring/Summer in November-December for about three weeks. During this time they lose considerable weight and become weaker because they are are land bound and cannot fish. To compensate, the penguins increase their weight substantially beforehand by overeating.
There are a number of sites around the coast of South Africa on which colonies of the African Penguin are found. The largest colony is on the island of St.Croix off Port Elizabeth which contains around 50,000 penguins. The largest concentration of penguins in the Southern Cape - on Dassen Island off Yzerfontein numbers around 30,000. The onshore colony at Boulders Beach Simonstown is home to 2,500 penguins approx..
The African Penguin feeds on fish which it hunts in the upper sea water levels, such as mackerel, anchovies and pilchards. Its diet has become depleted by the fishing industry which has forced it to adapt to eating other sea life such as crustaceans and squid. The fishing range of the penguin is considerable - 30kms+ and it is able to dive to 35 metres to secure its prey. It will consume from 300g - 1kg of fish a day and this intake increases when it is feeding its young.
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Penguins breed from about 4 years old. The African Penguin is generally monogamous, remaining with the same partner. At Boulders Beach Simonstown breeding takes place February - August, producing 1-2 eggs each year. The African Penguin nests in shallow burrows in the sand which it digs to protect its young from the sun and to which it will return each year. |
The African penguin at Boulders Beach Simonstown was originally spotted there in 1983. Since then a colony developed as many penguins migrated from Dyer Island to take advantage of improved fishing in the Bay.
The Cape Peninsula National Park, now Table Mountain National Park eventually took responsibility for the control of the penguins in order to conserve their environment and prevent them from becoming a nuisance to residents of the area.
Fences and boardwalks have been built to prevent the penguins from wandering from the beach and to enable visitors to view them safely without disturbing the environment. Access to the area is controlled during office hours and weekends, an information centre has been established and an entry fee is charged to raise funds for conservation.
The survival of the African Penguin has been influenced by various factors over the years including hunting for food by humans in past centuries. Numbers have in fact dwindled from millions to less than 200,000 and to the point where they are considered an endangered species. One major problem has been oil spills from ships which clogs the penguins' feathers and affect their insulation as well as being ingested.
A rescue and rehabilitation centre for the African Penguin and other sea birds, known as the Southern African National Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds SANCCOB, has been in operation near Tableview Cape Town for some 20 years and is considered to be one of the most effective rehabilitation centres of its type in the world. It is funded by donations and members subscriptions. Recent rehabilitations include one of 18,000 penguins which were de-oiled and cleaned following the sinking of the ore carrier 'Treasure' near Robben Island.
Reference: www.simonstown.com
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