African penguin released in Namibia as species faces critical decline

A female African penguin, AP002, was successfully released back into the wild on Halifax Island near Lüderitz after 49 days of rehabilitation by the Namibian Foundation for the Conservation of Seabirds Namcob. Rescued as an underweight chick, she gained health and waterproof feathers, essential for release. This success comes as African penguins face a critical situation, listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List in October 2024, with experts warning of potential extinction in the wild by 2035. The species, which breeds only in South Africa and Namibia, has seen its population decline by over 82% in Namibia alone since 1979, and a 97% drop across its entire population over the last century. Key breeding islands like Mercury and Ichaboe have experienced drastic reductions in breeding pairs, though Ichaboe saw a slight recovery last year. The decline is attributed to overfishing of sardines and anchovies, climate change leading to extreme weather and warmer ocean temperatures, diseases like avian influenza, and pollution from human activity. The public is urged to report any penguins seen out of the water to Namcob or Ocean Conservation Namibia OCN, as these birds are often lost, weak, or starving while searching for food.