African penguins and rare seabirds on Dyer Island (00003575)

Description: The African penguins, also known as Spheniscus demersus, are fascinating creatures that inhabit Dyer Island. This island, accessible only with a special permit, is home to these penguins along with rare seabirds. The ruins of a former guano station stand as a reminder of the past, when seal hunters and penguin hunters frequented the island. Sad remnants of that era are still visible. Until the end of the last century, African penguins were hunted for their oil. It wasn't until 1919 that this cruel practice was halted. The population of African penguins in South Africa declined by over 50% between 1956 and 1978, partly due to overfishing of their food sources. Listed as a threatened species in Appendix II of the Washington Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, Dyer Island and its wildlife are now fully protected, with only a conservation officer and occasionally a biologist living on the island.

Location: Western Cape, Dyer Island, South Africa

Date of Capture: 13.05.2001