African Penguinケープペンギン（アフリカペンギン）

Spheniscus demersusCR— Critically Endangered

The African penguin is the only penguin species that breeds on the African continent, found exclusively along the coasts of South Africa and Namibia. It hunts small schooling fish such as sardines and anchovies at sea and returns faithfully to the same breeding colonies each year, where its loud, donkey-like call has earned it the nickname "jackass penguin." Once numbering over a million pairs, the species has declined roughly 95 percent since pre-industrial times and is now listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN.

African Penguin (reference photo)
Photo: Diego Delso / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Source / cropped

Species Data

Classification
Sphenisciformes / Spheniscidae Source
Distribution
The African penguin is confined to the coasts of South Africa and Namibia, breeding on 24 islands and a few mainland sites between the two countries, and is the only penguin species that breeds in Africa. Source

Did You Know?

  • It is nicknamed the "jackass penguin" for its loud, donkey-like bray. Source
  • Chicks are guarded by both parents for the first 40 days after hatching. Source
  • During the 2000 MV Treasure oil spill, more than 91 percent of rescued penguins were successfully rehabilitated and released, in one of the largest wildlife rescue efforts in history. Source

Where to See This Species

11 facilities · 0 individuals

サンシャイン水族館 (Sanshain Suizokukan)Tokyo池袋駅（35番出口）からサンシャイン60通りを通って来館。

「天空のペンギン」「草原のペンギン」の2水槽で約50羽を展示。 Source

京都水族館 (Kyouto Suizokukan)KyotoJR「京都」駅中央口から徒歩約15分。

50羽以上を飼育し、京都の通り名にちなんだ個体名と「京都ペンギン相関図」で個体ごとの関係性を発信。 Source

神戸どうぶつ王国 (Koubedoubutsuoukoku)Hyogoポートライナー「計算科学センター駅（神戸どうぶつ王国・「富岳」前）」下車すぐ。

「ペンギンコースト」で展示。2026年4月に名古屋港水族館から19羽が搬入された。 Source

アドベンチャーワールド (Adobencha World)WakayamaOpened in 1978

アドベンチャーワールドのWikipedia記事に飼育種として記載 Source

ノースサファリサッポロ (Nosusafarisapporo)Hokkaido

ノースサファリサッポロのWikipedia記事に飼育種として記載 Source

四国水族館 (Shikoku Suizokukan)Kagawa香川県綾歌郡宇多津町浜一番丁4（宇多津臨海公園内）。

四国水族館のWikipedia記事に飼育種として記載 Source

志摩マリンランド (Shimamarin Land)MieOpened in 1970

志摩マリンランドのWikipedia記事に飼育種として記載 Source

松江フォーゲルパーク (Matsuefogeru Park)ShimaneOpened in 2001

松江フォーゲルパークのWikipedia記事に飼育種として記載 Source

仙台うみの杜水族館 (Sendaiuminomori Suizokukan)MiyagiOpened in 2015

仙台うみの杜水族館のWikipedia記事に飼育種として記載 Source

長崎ペンギン水族館 (Nagasakipengin Suizokukan)NagasakiOpened in 2001

長崎ペンギン水族館のWikipedia記事に飼育種として記載 Source

東京都恩賜上野動物園 (Toukyoutoonshiueno Doubutsuen)TokyoOpened in 1882

東京都恩賜上野動物園のWikipedia記事に飼育種として記載 Source

Latest news

4

Open the news index

Source links to official sites, official YouTube channels, and news aggregators such as Zoo Ring. Visit the publisher for the full item.

Conservation Story

Conservation Status

IUCNで近絶滅種（CR）。2024年に絶滅危惧（EN）から引き上げられ、現生ペンギンで最も絶滅が危惧される種の一つ。20世紀初頭から個体数が激減している。

Habitat

南アフリカ・ナミビアの沿岸と沖合の島々。

Threats

  • 餌となるイワシ・カタクチイワシの乱獲と分布変化
  • 原油流出による油汚染
  • グアノ採取などによる営巣環境の劣化
  • 海洋の温暖化

Conservation & Breeding Efforts

  • 人工巣（アーティフィシャル・ネスト）の設置
  • 油汚染個体の洗浄・リハビリと放鳥
  • 動物園・水族館での域外個体群の維持と繁殖

Sources

ja.wikipedia.org www.iucnredlist.org

Support Conservation

A visit is a small, positive way to support the daily lives of the animals you care about.

Visit
A visit itself helps support the facility.
Animal Supporter Programs & Giving
Find ways to support the facility through its official website.
Furusato Nozei
Municipally run facilities may share official guidance for this Japanese hometown-tax program.

FAQ

Why is the African penguin called the jackass penguin?
It gets this nickname from its loud, braying call, which resembles the sound made by a donkey. Source
Where do African penguins live?
They are found only along the coasts of South Africa and Namibia, breeding on 24 islands and a few mainland colonies between the two countries, making them the only penguin species that breeds in Africa. Source
Why are African penguins critically endangered?
Their population has fallen roughly 95 percent since pre-industrial times due to overfishing of their prey, oil spills, and other pressures, with fewer than 10,000 breeding pairs left and projections warning of functional extinction by 2035 without intervention. Source

Source: sunshinecity.jp www.kyoto-aquarium.com www.kobe-oukoku.com www.birdlife.org www.iucnredlist.org