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Endangered African penguins living along South Africa’s coastline have likely died in vast numbers from starvation caused by shrinking food supplies, according to a study released on Friday.
Researchers said some colonies had suffered population declines of up to 95 per cent in just eight years, pushing the species dangerously close to extinction.
Scientists estimate that fewer than 10,000 breeding pairs of the distinctive black-and-white bird now remain worldwide.
The African penguin was added to the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s critically endangered list last year, reflecting the dramatic fall in its numbers in recent decades.
The research, carried out by the University of Exeter in conjunction with South Africa’s Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, focused on two major breeding colonies near Cape Town.
It found that between 2004 and 2011, the populations at both sites collapsed, with an estimated 62,000 penguins dying during that period.
During those eight years, sardine numbers in South African waters were persistently low, averaging less than a quarter of their historical peak levels.
Sardines are a staple part of the penguins’ diet, and the study’s authors said the lack of food left the birds unable to survive in sufficient numbers.
Biologist Richard Sherley, who co-authored the report, said fishing activity combined with environmental changes, including shifts in sea temperature and salt levels, dramatically reduced fish stocks.
The researchers concluded that the extended shortage of sardines resulted in severe food scarcity for the penguins, leading to the large-scale loss of breeding adults. They also found that the global population of African penguins has fallen by nearly 80 per cent over the last 30 years.
Conservation groups have warned that if the decline continues at its current pace, the species could disappear from the wild by 2035.
In response, authorities have placed a commercial fishing ban around six penguin colonies over the past decade, including Robben Island and Dassen Island, which were central to the study. Other rescue efforts include the use of artificial nesting sites and attempts to establish new colonies elsewhere.
African penguins are one of South Africa’s most popular wildlife attractions, drawing thousands of tourists each year.
However, researchers note that rising visitor numbers can also stress the birds and disrupt breeding, adding further pressure to a species already fighting for survival.
