Everybody Loves Penguins
Everyone, it seems, loves penguins. Kids are particularly drawn to this strange bird that acts like a mammal. In fact, it can be down right difficult convincing a child that a penguin does have feathers instead of fur.
Where Do Penguins Live?
The most common answer is the South Pole or Antarctica. Some mistakenly believe that penguins live with the polar bears at the North Pole. But very few realize that some penguins can, and do, live along the African coastline and along the shores of South America.
The penguins to the left are African Penguins.
AFRICAN PENGUINS
African Penguins, also known as the "jackass penguin" due to its loud braying call that sounds like a donkey call, are the only penguins to live in Africa.
The African Penguin lives off the coast of southern Africa on rocky islands. These closely follow the Benguela Current that brings frigid waters from Antarctica northward along the African coast. African Penguins have adapted to the warmer climate by spending the majority of the day swimming in the cool waters. During breeding season when one, or both, of the pair must stay on land, they restrict activity to early morning and late evening hours. Nesting sites are burrows under rocks, or bushes, to protect the eggs from the intense heat of the sun.
The African Penguin lives off the coast of southern Africa on rocky islands. These closely follow the Benguela Current that brings frigid waters from Antarctica northward along the African coast. African Penguins have adapted to the warmer climate by spending the majority of the day swimming in the cool waters. During breeding season when one, or both, of the pair must stay on land, they restrict activity to early morning and late evening hours. Nesting sites are burrows under rocks, or bushes, to protect the eggs from the intense heat of the sun.
Breeding
African penguins mate and remain together throughout the entire breeding season. Some have been recorded as staying together for as long as 10 years, often returning to the same nesting site each year.
Once the eggs are laid, both parents help in incubating the eggs. African penguins typically lay one egg, but may lay two. For about 40 days, one of the pair must take on the responsibility of incubating the egg while the other searches for food.
When the chicks have hatched, the pair takes turns protecting the young chicks for another 14 days. At this point, the penguin chicks gain control of their own body temperature. However, they still require supervision for the next 30 days.
Once the eggs are laid, both parents help in incubating the eggs. African penguins typically lay one egg, but may lay two. For about 40 days, one of the pair must take on the responsibility of incubating the egg while the other searches for food.
When the chicks have hatched, the pair takes turns protecting the young chicks for another 14 days. At this point, the penguin chicks gain control of their own body temperature. However, they still require supervision for the next 30 days.
What Do African Penguins Eat?
The African penguin's diet consists of anchovies, sardines, mackerel, herring, small crustaceans, and squid. African penguins can dive nearly 200 feet in a typical 2-3 minute dive. They swim up to 12 miles per hour and travel distances of 40-50 miles in each trip as they seek out the best food supply.
ENEMIES
The African penguin's greatest enemy is man. African penguins face the risk of oil spills, egg harvesting, and exposure to diseases and pollutants that man introduced to the environment. Other predators include the Kelp gull, fur seals, and sharks.
