A glimmer of hope for South Africa’s endangered penguins as Boulders colony defies decline.
Conservationists have welcomed a rare and encouraging victory in the fight to save the African penguin, following a surprise population boost at one of South Africa’s most famous wildlife havens.
The latest annual census at the Boulders colony, nestled within Table Mountain National Park, has revealed a significant rise in breeding pairs, offering a vital glimmer of hope for a critically endangered species teetering on the brink of extinction.
Using standardised, internationally recognised census methods to ensure strict consistency and comparability, an expert team recorded 790 breeding pairs of African penguins during their annual June survey. This marks a notable increase of 92 breeding pairs from the 698 recorded in 2025. Based on standard population estimates, the Boulders colony now supports approximately 2,528 individual penguins, accounting for roughly 8 to 9% of South Africa’s total African penguin population.
The census was conducted by a collaborative team comprising South African National Parks (SANParks) alongside partners from the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, the City of Cape Town, Cumic Rangers, the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB), and dedicated volunteers.
