04:02The Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB) employees continue to care for an endangered species of African penguin at their rescue centre in Cape Town.
Footage captured on Thursday shows African penguins tottering towards the swimming pool at the SANCCOB, and local staff feeding and cleaning the birds while they were calling to one another in short raspy barks. Penguins could also be seen hopping along the waterline at Boulders Beach seemingly unfazed by humans' presence.
"The science is showing that at the current rate of decline, which I've said is eight per cent per year. At that current rate, if it persists, by 2035, this penguin species will be extinct in the wild," stated Nicky Stander, head of conservation at the SANCCOB.
She continued that although it was a difficult decision, they "felt like it was the only thing left to do" and launched a lawsuit against the local government in March, explaining that the reason for it was that the African penguin needs to be 'uplisted to critically endangered'.
The final decision on the African penguins' status is expected to be announced on October 22, when scientists will know whether they are suitable for the 'critically endangered' category of the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List.
The government of the South Africa has not yet commented on publicly about the case.
According to reports, there have been less than 10,000 breeding pairs of African penguins, the only kinds existing on the African coastline, between Namibia and South Africa in 2023, and the numbers continue to decline.
Dying breed - Scientists submit litigation to local government to protect 'critically endangered' South African penguin species
The Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB) employees continue to care for an endangered species of African penguin at their rescue centre in Cape Town.
Footage captured on Thursday shows African penguins tottering towards the swimming pool at the SANCCOB, and local staff feeding and cleaning the birds while they were calling to one another in short raspy barks. Penguins could also be seen hopping along the waterline at Boulders Beach seemingly unfazed by humans' presence.
"The science is showing that at the current rate of decline, which I've said is eight per cent per year. At that current rate, if it persists, by 2035, this penguin species will be extinct in the wild," stated Nicky Stander, head of conservation at the SANCCOB.
She continued that although it was a difficult decision, they "felt like it was the only thing left to do" and launched a lawsuit against the local government in March, explaining that the reason for it was that the African penguin needs to be 'uplisted to critically endangered'.
The final decision on the African penguins' status is expected to be announced on October 22, when scientists will know whether they are suitable for the 'critically endangered' category of the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List.
The government of the South Africa has not yet commented on publicly about the case.
According to reports, there have been less than 10,000 breeding pairs of African penguins, the only kinds existing on the African coastline, between Namibia and South Africa in 2023, and the numbers continue to decline.
The Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB) employees continue to care for an endangered species of African penguin at their rescue centre in Cape Town.
Footage captured on Thursday shows African penguins tottering towards the swimming pool at the SANCCOB, and local staff feeding and cleaning the birds while they were calling to one another in short raspy barks. Penguins could also be seen hopping along the waterline at Boulders Beach seemingly unfazed by humans' presence.
"The science is showing that at the current rate of decline, which I've said is eight per cent per year. At that current rate, if it persists, by 2035, this penguin species will be extinct in the wild," stated Nicky Stander, head of conservation at the SANCCOB.
She continued that although it was a difficult decision, they "felt like it was the only thing left to do" and launched a lawsuit against the local government in March, explaining that the reason for it was that the African penguin needs to be 'uplisted to critically endangered'.
The final decision on the African penguins' status is expected to be announced on October 22, when scientists will know whether they are suitable for the 'critically endangered' category of the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List.
The government of the South Africa has not yet commented on publicly about the case.
According to reports, there have been less than 10,000 breeding pairs of African penguins, the only kinds existing on the African coastline, between Namibia and South Africa in 2023, and the numbers continue to decline.