The African Penguin is the only penguin species found in Africa, breeding primarily on coastal islands and forming large colonies from Namibia to Port Elizabeth, South Africa. These endearing little penguins are more than just charming waddlers; they play a vital role in Namibia's marine ecosystems. As an indicator species, their health reflects the state of our oceans and signals changes in the fish stocks critical to our marine ecosystem and the coastal fisheries that depend on it. Globally, their population has crashed by over 97%, prompting the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to classify the species as "Critically Endangered", one step away from extinction in the wild. Starvation is a key reason for their demise, as we have overfished the sardines, anchovies, and other small pelagic fish that comprise their primary diet. Oil spills, climate change, and habitat loss from past guano harvesting are among the other factors that have compounded the crisis. Against this backdrop, experts emphasize urgency. The African Penguin is in a dire situation, and we cannot afford to wait any longer to protect the species properly, says Nicky Stander, Head of Conservation at the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB). In just over a decade, they could no longer exist. Governments, organisations, and individuals must come together to save them at all costs.