Conservation & Threats

Are penguins endangered?

Not all penguins are endangered, but many species face serious threats. Of the 18 species, 5 are listed as Endangered or Vulnerable by the IUCN: the African penguin and Galapagos penguin are Endangered, while the yellow-eyed penguin, erect-crested penguin, and northern rockhopper penguin are Vulnerable or Endangered. Several more are listed as Near Threatened. Overall, more than half of all penguin species are experiencing population declines. Climate change, overfishing, habitat destruction, and pollution are the primary drivers of these declines.