Last Updated: 5 December 2025, 18:36 IST More than 60,000 African penguins died off the coast of South Africa due to starvation. According to a new study, the severe shortage and overfishing of their main source of food, sardines, is responsible for this. These deaths mainly occurred during the process of feather change (moulting). This species was declared critically endangered in 2024. When the fish disappeared, so did the African penguins, the entire colony disappeared in 8 years, shocking revelation (Photo: USGS) A heartbreaking tragedy came to light off the coast of South Africa. Here, around 60,000 African penguins died of hunger. This horrifying revelation was made in a new scientific study. The main reason for the death is said to be a shortage of sardines. Sardine fish are the main food of these penguins. The situation is worst in the two large breeding colonies of Dasen and Robbeneiland. Here, 95% of the penguins became extinct between 2004 and 2012. Scientists believe this is the result of climate crisis and indiscriminate fishing. Human greed snatched the morsel from the mouths of these voiceless people. This report was published in ‘Ostrich: Journal of African Ornithology’. How did such large numbers of penguins die? The study shed light on the manner of death of the penguins. African penguins shed their old feathers every year. In their place, new feathers grow that protect them from cold and water. This process is called molting. It lasts about 21 days. The biggest problem is that the penguins only stay on the ground during this time. They cannot go to sea to hunt. To stay alive, they must increase body fat by eating a lot before this process. Dr. Richard Shirley of the University of Exeter said that if they don’t get food before they molt, they become weak. He does not have enough energy left for 21 days of fasting. They die either of starvation before or immediately after moulting. Scientists found no bodies on the ground. They believe that the weak penguins went into the sea in search of prey and drowned there. According to the study, there has been a large decrease in the number of sardine fish (Sardinops sagax) on the coast of Western South Africa. Since 2004, the biomass of sardines has fallen by 25% from its peak level. Changes in water temperature and salinity affected fish reproduction. The remaining gap was filled by commercial fishing. Fishing continued on a large scale in this area. The penguins did not get food and kept dying of hunger. This is a terrible example of environmental imbalance. With only 10 thousand pairs of African penguins left, the situation is so bad that the African penguin was declared ‘critically endangered’ in 2024. Now there are only 10,000 breeding pairs left in the world. The population of this species has decreased by around 80% in the last 30 years. Lorien Picgru of the Nelson Mandela University called this very worrying. He said it was the result of mismanagement of small fish. The situation worsens with time instead of improving. This is a threat not only to the penguins, but to all the creatures that depend on these fish. Now some tough decisions are being made to save penguins from extinction. Commercial ‘purse-seine fishing’ has been banned around South Africa’s six largest penguin colonies. In this, a group of fish is surrounded with a large net. Apart from this, conservationists make artificial nests so that the chicks can be saved. Sick and weak penguins are rescued and fed by hand. Dr. Ajavianevi Makhado hopes that the ban on fishing will allow the penguins to find prey. This will help in important parts of their life cycle. But the big question is whether we will be able to compensate for this loss. About the Author Deepak Verma Deepak Verma works as Deputy News Editor in News18 Hindi (Digital). Born and brought up in Lucknow, Deepak’s journalistic journey started with print media but soon he switched to digital platform… Read More First Published: 5 December 2025, 18:35 IST home world 60 thousand penguins died of starvation in the sea, now in danger of extinction.