Surviving Climate Change: The Resilience of African Penguins

Scientists at Stellenbosch University have created a paleo-historical picture of the geographical range of African penguins over the past 22,000 years, revealing a tenfold reduction in suitable nesting habitat due to rising sea levels. The study highlights the current vulnerability of the last remaining penguin species in Africa, which has experienced a post-1900 collapse in population numbers due to human pressures, climate change, habitat destruction, and competition for food. The researchers argue that the findings also highlight the potential for a reserve of resilience in African penguins that may be leveraged for conservation and management in an uncertain future.