By: Arya Prindiprolu
They are adorable little guys, about knee high, and the only birds that have wings specialized for swimming. Â They are known as the African Penguins.
African Penguins, living in South Africa, are at risk of extinction. Also known as the black-footed penguin and Jackass Penguin, they are confined to the southern African waters. They are found living in colonies between Namibia and near Port Elizabeth, South Africa and feed on anchovies and sardines.
Due to the anchovies and sardines moving farther South into the cooler waters, less of the African penguins can feed on the anchovies and sardines. Not only are the anchovies and sardines a huge part of South Africa’s fishing industry, but they are also the penguin’s primary food source.  However, a government fisheries scientist says that there are plenty of fish for the penguins, as fishing quotas only allow about ten percent of the fish population to be taken. She says that many fisheries experts believe it is not fisheries that are the problem, but sharks, seals, nest flooding, or different factors from large fishing vessels.
Nonetheless, nothing is completely certain now since more testing must be done to see if these assumptions are correct. Scientists have been disputing what is causing these penguins to be at the risk of extinction, but all that is certain is that steps must be taken immediately to help the Penguins.
