African Penguins

One of the main reasons SAMREC was established is the close proximity to the African Penguin breeding colony on St Croix Island.  The African Penguin (Spheniscus demersus), formerly known as the Jackass Penguin due to the fact that they bray like a donkey, is found on the south-western coast of Africa living in colonies on 24 islands between Namibia and Algoa Bay, near Port Elizabeth.  Penguins is a threatened and protected species and the numbers on St Croix Island have drastically decreased in recent years, prompting the importance of having a centre like SAMREC based in Port Elizabeth.