In 2024, the African penguin was re-classified as critically endangered. The population size has decreased with numbers falling to less than 10,000 breeding pairs left in the wild. Threats include the adverse effects of climate change, over fishing of surrounding waters, oil spills, noise pollution and habitat loss. At this rate of decline the African penguin could be functionally extinct within ten years.
The Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds hopes to change this. SANCCOB is a registered non-profit organisation whose primary objective is to reverse the decline of seabird populations through the rescue, rehabilitation and release of ill, injured, abandoned and oiled seabirds, especially endangered species like the African penguin.
African penguins by © Dan Callister
African penguin by © Dan Callister
SANCCOB Ranger by © Dan Callister
SANCCOB Ranger by © Dan Callister
Endangered by © Dan Callister
SANCCOB Ranger by © Dan Callister
SANCCOB Ranger by © Dan Callister
Rescued African penguin chick at SANCCOB © Dan Callister
SANCCOB Ranger with rescued African penguin chick © Dan Callister
SANCCOB African penguin rescue © Dan Callister
SANCCOB African penguin rescue © Dan Callister
Rescued African penguin chicks © Dan Callister
Rescued African penguin chicks © Dan Callister
SANCCOB Ranger with rescued penguin chick © Dan Callister
SANCCOB African penguin rescue
SANCCOB Ranger © Dan Callister
SANCCOB Ranger in the field © Dan Callister
Deceased African penguin chick © Dan Callister
Rescued African Penguin chicks © Dan Callister
Rescued African penguin chick © Dan Callister
SANCCOB by © Dan Callister
SANCCOB by © Dan Callister
SANCCOB Rangersby © Dan Callister
SANCCOB by © Dan Callister
SANCCOB by © Dan Callister
Rescued penguin chick © Dan Callister
Dead African penguin © Dan Callister
SANCCOB by © Dan Callister
SANCCOB by © Dan Callister
African penguins by © Dan Callister
Rescued African penguin being weighed © Dan Callister
Rescued African penguin at SANCCOB © Dan Callister
African penguin in moult © Dan Callister
African penguin being rescued by SANCCOB © Dan Callister
Rescued African penguin chicks © Dan Callister
Rescued African penguin receiving treatment at SANCCOB © Dan Callister
Rescued African penguin eggs © Dan Callister
SANCCOB Ranger rescuing African penguin © Dan Callister
SANCCOB clinic © Dan Callister
Rescued African penguin egg © Dan Callister
SANCCOB penguin rescue © Dan Callister
SANCCOB penguin rescue © Dan Callister
SANCCOB clinic © Dan Callister
SANCCOB by © Dan Callister
SANCCOB © Dan Callister
SANCCOB © Dan Callister
SANCCOB by © Dan Callister
Rescued African penguin chick © Dan Callister
Deceased African penguin chick © Dan Callister
SANCCOB clinic © Dan Callister
SANCCOB African penguin rescue © Dan Callister
SANCCOB clinic © Dan Callister
African penguin receiving surgery © Dan Callister
African penguin X-ray © Dan Callister
African penguin undergoing surgery © Dan Callister
African penguin undergoing surgery © Dan Callister
African penguin undergoing surgery at SANCCOB © Dan Callister
African penguin undergoing surgery © Dan Callister
African penguin undergoing surgery © Dan Callister
African penguin undergoing surgery © Dan Callister
African penguin undergoing surgery © Dan Callister
African penguin undergoing surgery © Dan Callister
African penguin undergoing surgery © Dan Callister
African penguin undergoing surgery © Dan Callister
African penguin undergoing surgery © Dan Callister
African penguin undergoing surgery © Dan Callister
SANCCOB clinic © Dan Callister
African penguin undergoing surgery © Dan Callister
African penguins at SANCCOB © Dan Callister
African penguin receiving medical treatment at SANCCOB © Dan Callister
African penguin receiving medical treatment at SANCCOB © Dan Callister
Rescued penguin chick at SANCCOB © Dan Callister
SANCCOB by © Dan Callister
SANCCOB by © Dan Callister
SANCCOB by © Dan Callister
SANCCOB by © Dan Callister
SANCCOB by © Dan Callister
SANCCOB © Dan Callister
African penguin receiving medical check-up at SANCCOB © Dan Callister
African penguin necropsy © Dan Callister
African penguin necropsy © Dan Callister
African penguin necropsy © Dan Callister
African penguin chick © DanCallister
African penguin chick at SANCCOB © Dan Callister
African penguin amputee at SANCCOB © Dan Callister
Rescued emaciated African penguin chick © Dan Callister
Rescued African penguin chick received medical attention at SANCCOB © Dan Callister
African penguin receives medical check-up at SANCCOB © Dan Callister
Dog harasses African penguins Seaforth Beach © Dan Callister
African penguin receives medical attention at SANCCOB © Dan Callister
SANCCOB RANGER © Dan Callister
African penguins surrounded by tourists at Seaforth Beach © Dan Callister
SANCCOB Ranger by © Dan Callister
African penguins by © Dan Callister
SANCCOB Ranger by © Dan Callister
African penguin chicks by © Dan Callister
African penguin © Dan Callister
SANCOB Ranger by © Dan Callister
African Penguins by © Dan Callister
SANCCOB © Dan Callister
Rescued African penguin © Dan Callister
Rescued African penguins due to be released back into the wild © Dan Callister
Rescued African penguins re-released into the wild © Dan Callister
Rescued African penguin re-released back into the wild © Dan Callister
Time is running out © Dan Callister
“If we cannot save penguins—cannot save what everybody loves—what can we save?”
— Charles Bergman