African Penguin Behavior. However, the African Penguin is one of the few that makes a sound similar to that of a donkey braying. By Alexis Croswell. They include the tiny blue penguins of Australia and New Zealand, the majestic emperor penguins of Antarctica and king penguins found on many sub- Antarctic islands, the endangered African penguin and the Galápagos penguin—the only penguin to be found north of the equator. Also called jackass penguins, they make donkey-like braying sounds to communicate. Safari Finder Tap to search. They can dive under water for up to 2.5 minutes while trying to catch small fish such as anchovies and sardines. Who Knew? This type of penguin species is a bit larger in size than the most common Adelie penguin. African Penguins - Spheniscus demersus: Penguins and Penguin Conservation. Penguins are a family of 17 to 19 species of birds that live primarily in the Southern Hemisphere. African penguins start their first molting 14 days after hatching and then a second time at 40-60 days. Oiled Penguins * On the outside it ruins their insulation, the penguin's feathers don't work properly any longer as they are congealed with oil, so the penguins get cold (hypothermia). Almost all of the 17 to … African penguins used to be marked with flipper bands, but nowadays, small microchips (similar to a cat or dog’s microchip) are being used and birds can be identified using hand-held or ground readers. They help control populations of small fish species and provide food for larger predators. 5 Major Threats to Penguins and What You Can Do To Help 6 years ago. However, the African Penguin is one of the few that makes a sound similar to that of a donkey braying. These vocalizations allow them to identify their mate, to communicate with offspring, and to warn of any dangers. African penguins live in colonies on the coast and islands of southern Africa. Penguin Monitoring with microchips. BY PRICE . Penguins are important Why Penguins Are More Important Than Ever For the Average American - By Michael Tobias and Jane Gray Morrison Several of the 17 species of penguin worldwide are in trouble: they face the very real possibility of extinction in this century. African Penguin – Spheniscus demersus. 7 Amazing Facts About African Penguins for World Penguin Day. The penguins are now endangered and charities like the Dyer Island Conservation Trust are building artificial nest boxes for them to try and save them from extinction in the wild. Official web site of the International Penguin Conservation Work Group, it offers an insight into the world of penguins, and the research, captive breeding and conservation efforts being carried out to save penguins world-wide. During a period of approximately 18 days it will not be waterproof and insulated enough to forage for food. When you think of penguins, African penguins might not be the image that pops into your head. This is one of the reasons why African penguin populations have declined by 95% since pre-industrial times. * On the inside, if the penguin swallows oil whilst preening (cleaning itself), the penguin gets poisoned. African penguins live in colonies along the Western coast and islands between South Africa and … African penguins are an essential part of the food chain. Although they are significantly larger than Adelie penguins, African penguins are still only medium sized species. These vocalizations allow them to identify their mate, to communicate with offspring, and to warn of any dangers.