When most people think of penguins, they picture icy snow and freezing temperatures—but not all penguins live in the cold! Meet the African penguin, a warm-weather penguin found on the sunny coasts of South Africa and Namibia. It’s also called the jackass penguin because of the funny braying sound it makes—just like a donkey!
African penguins are medium-sized birds with black-and-white feathers, a curved black line across their chest, and pink patches above their eyes that help them stay cool. That’s right—the pink spots aren’t just decoration. They act like natural “cooling pads” to release heat on hot beach days.
These penguins are great swimmers and spend most of their time in the ocean hunting for fish, squid, and crustaceans. They can dive deep and hold their breath for up to 2 minutes. On land, they’re often seen waddling around in pairs or small colonies, where they nest in burrows, caves, or under bushes to protect their eggs from the sun and predators.
African penguins are monogamous, meaning they usually stay with the same mate for life. Both the mom and dad help take care of the eggs and feed the chicks once they hatch.
Sadly, these penguins are endangered due to overfishing, oil spills, and habitat loss. Their population has dropped by over 60% in the last few decades. Many zoos around the world are part of special programs to protect and breed African penguins, helping to make sure future generations can enjoy these waddling wonders.
