When the penguins first came to False Bay in 1983 from Dyer Island, which is near Gansbaai, there was plenty for them to eat and so the colony grew rapidly. In recent years, however, commercial fishing, marine pollution and habitat destruction have negatively affected the size of the colony. In 1910, it was estimated that there were approximately one-and-a-half million African Penguins; a century later, the aquatic bird was classified as an endangered species. These days there are only a paltry 26 000 breeding pairs left in the whole world!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Przemek Wos

 

 

Photo. B. Chodacki   Boulders Beach 1997