Where there were once significantly more than a million pairs of African penguins dotting the coastlines and islands of South Africa and Namibia there are now only slightly more than twenty thousand pairs.  The challenges that have been thrown at the birds over the past century and beyond have dwindled their numbers by almost 99% and have put the fate of the iconic African penguins at serious risk.  

​These threats to their survival all must be addressed simultaneously to secure the future of African penguins.  The primary focus of the African Penguin Nest Project has been to focus on one of the most basic needs for the birds, a safe and proper location for successful nesting activities.  Without providing for the safe incubation of eggs and rearing of chicks the future of the species is bleak even if all other concerns are addressed.  The African Penguin Nest Project aims to produce and install thousands of painstakingly designed and scientifically researched nests in colonies across South Africa in upcoming years.  There has been a strong start towards this goal with more than a thousand nests having been installed in colonies by early 2019 and construction of hundreds more already completed for future installation.