Africa Photo Blog

By: Louise de Waal

Apr 24 2011

Tags: African penguin, artificial penguins homes, Boulders Penguin colony, Simon's Town

Category: Wildlife

The African penguin, previously known as the Jackass penguin because of their donkey-like braying call, is listed in the Red Data book as an endangered species.

The vast majority of African penguins breed on islands along the coast of South Africa and Namibia. Two mainland colonies were established,  Boulders Beach near Simon’s Town and one in Betty’s Bay, both in the Western Cape.

Boulder Beach colony grew from only two breeding pairs in 1982 to over 900 in recent years and the struggle for nesting sites was in full swing. The beach is exposed to predators and the elements, the surrounding bushes were quickly invaded by exploring penguins and so were the neighbouring gardens. The solution came with the placement of 200 artificial penguin homes in 2009, creating lots of ‘happy feet’. (Boulders Penguin Colony, Simon’s Town, South Africa)