The African penguin
October 20, 2016
The African penguin may be small but it has lots of character, says Cuan McGeorge, a conservationist in South Africa. The little critter can't fly but will dive into the deep ocean for food, facing many threats, including from fishing trawlers. Still, the bird is endangered due to commercial fishing off the country's coast. In recent years, its population has crashed. McGeorge is fighting to save the penguin.
About "My favorite"
With all the talk of endangered species, the value of biodiversity and the usefulness of ecosystems, we sometimes forget why plants and animals are really worth protecting: because we love them, or depend on them for our own wellbeing. People from all walks of life and in all parts of the world have a favorite species. The reasons are many - perhaps because it is beautiful, or fascinating, or it helps them secure a livelihood. Meet some of these people and their favorites in our series "My favorite."