Jackass Penguin

This penguin is now called African Penguin, but at the beginning, it was called Jackass Penguin because of its braying like a donkey. It lives only off the coast of southern Africa. In 1930, the population of this species was 1,2 million individuals and now the population has decreased to 90%. There are only 120 000 individual left. (Jocelyn Collins, 2001)

Many industries affect this animal: commercial fishing, oil companies and eggs hunts conducted by humans are some reasons to the collapse of the Jackass Penguin population. Commercial fishing boats take all of the fish that those birds eat, consequently they are unable to feed themselves or their young. Oil companies pollute the seas, the principal habitat of those penguins. And in some countries, Jackass Penguin’s eggs are considered a fancy meal. As a result, the penguins are unable to reproduce fast enough. (Wikipedia)

To preserve this species, Jackass Penguins are protected by the South African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB).

  

Sources :  Jackass Penguin, http://www.bcb.uwc.ac.za/envfacts/facts/penguin.htm, Jocelyn Collins, 2001

                  Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_Penguin