African+Penguins

African Penguin By Arya Meyer and Christopher Donnelly

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__//**Characteristics**//__ African Penguins have a black upside down horseshoe on their neck with black speckles on their chest. They are about 27 inches tall and weigh between 7 and 11 pounds.They make a loud donkey -like braying sound. __//** Habitat **//__ Not all penguins live in snow and ice. The African Penguin is the ONLY penguin species that breeds in Africa,and is found nowhere else. They live in a rocky part of south Africa where it is a warm. __//**Food**//__ African Penguins feed on anchovies, sardines, mackerel, and herring, and they eat squid and crustaceans. The African Penguins are the only penguins who eat fish, anchovies, crustaceans,and,squid. They can go up to 20 km an hour when they hunt. That is about how fast a car goes in a parking lot. They fly through the sea to catch their prey. __//**Predators**//__ People are the most dangerous predators of African Penguins. We have hunted these penguins for food and oil. Their other predators are sharks, seals, and Killer whales. On land their predators are mongoose, cats, and dogs. African Penguins used to have a population of 1,000,000 but now there are only 150,000! __//**Babies**//__ Babies hatch after 37 days. Mom goes to search for food. African Penguins build nests apart from other nests. The mom and dad take turns hatching the eggs, 1 to 3 days each. The chicks get their adult feathers when they are 70 to 100 days old, which is about 3 mouths old. African Penguins usually start breeding of their own around 4 years old. When the egg hatches, the chicks are kept warm and protected for another 40 days by both parents. __//**Interesting Facts**//__ African Penguins are also known as the Blackfoot Penguins, and as the Jackass Penguin because of their donkey sounds. African Penguins are very nervous, so it is hard for tourists to see them. They live away from most penguins because they are in a warm climate. __//** Future For These Animals **//__ The African Penguin is classified as Endangered. They are now a protected species, but are still caused trouble by oil spills. There are rescue services to help penguins hurt by the oil spills. There are less and less due to egg harvesting, less fish to eat due to fishing, and oil pollution.

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