A scientific study, titled 'The African Penguin Spheniscus demersus should be considered Critically Endangered', has made concerning reports regarding African penguins. Data collected from this study has scientists considering putting this tuxedo-feathered creature on the critically endangered list in accordance with the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Red List. The final classification of the African penguin’s endangered status will be decided on 22 October 2024. However, this scientific paper makes it clear that this creature’s rapid population decline could potentially lead to its extinction. It states, "In other words, substantially more birds (more than 25%) have been lost in less than 10 years than now remain in the African Penguin population. Thus, it is not unreasonable to be concerned that - if these rates of decline persist - the species could become extinct in the wild by 2035."