Finance Minister Bayaz saves African penguin: A role model for species protection!

Finance Minister Bayaz saves African penguin: A role model for species protection!

Sustainability and animal welfare are the focus of a new commitment by the Baden-Württemberg Finance Minister Dr. Danyal Bayaz. On May 15, 2025, he sponsored a African penguin in Wilhelma. This commitment is part of its broader initiative to support animal welfare and aims to raise awareness of the urgent needs of endangered species. Bayaz has previously sponsored Unesco, a California sea lion, demonstrating his continued commitment to raising awareness of the challenges facing wildlife.

“Jackass penguins are fascinating animals,” emphasized the minister in a press statement. “Not only are they amazingly efficient at swimming, but they are also social creatures that share breeding duties.”

Threat to African penguins

The dangers that threaten African penguins are diverse and alarming. According to reports, the population of these penguins has decreased by about 97% in recent decades, which explains their classification as critically endangered. The main causes include food shortages caused by overfishing, as well as environmental pollution from plastic waste and oil. “Without urgent action, the wild African penguin could be extinct within the next 12 years,” warns a scientist on the occasion of “African Penguin Awareness Day”. tagesschau.de is reported.

The situation is particularly critical on Dassen Island off the coast of South Africa, where 1.5 million African penguins once lived, but today only around 65,000 remain. In Namibia, populations are even more endangered, with fewer than 5,000 breeding pairs, highlighting the need for effective environmental protection.

Commitment to protecting species

Dr. Thomas Kölpin, director of Wilhelma, greatly appreciates the finance minister's commitment. The sponsorship and the associated donations not only support the African penguin itself, but also numerous other animal protection projects. Previous initiatives include Terra Australis and planting in the Asian show farm.

In the broader perspective, it becomes clear that African penguins play a role as indicators of the health of the marine ecosystem. Their decline is a warning sign of the impact of human activities on the marine environment. Environmentalists stress that it is time to raise public awareness of this threat and take action.

Protecting African penguins and other endangered species requires collective action that includes both individual sponsorship and political action. This will also be highlighted at upcoming solidarity events in various countries, including the USA, France, Japan and Mozambique. “Waddle Day” on October 14, 2023 will be celebrated as another step in promoting the conservation of these remarkable animals.