African penguins are an endangered species. Humans played a major role in creating this situation, but we are also able to contribute to conservation efforts to help save the African penguin.

Did you know?

• Currently, only about 60 000 African penguins are left in the wild.
• Between 1900 and 1930, about 13-million penguin eggs were collected for human consumption. This practice was stopped only in 1967
• Penguins re-colonised Robben Island in 1983, after an absence of almost 180 years
• The first penguins to call Boulders Beach “home” were spotted on the beach in 1985
• During the 2000 Treasure oil spill, 18 516 oiled birds were rescued from Robben and Dassen islands. There was a mortality rate of only 10.3% – a vast improvement on previous rescues. A total of 12 000 volunteers worked 556 000 hours during the rescue operation
• Scientists believe that the endangered African penguin will be extinct in the wild within 15 years

Join us as we ‘waddle’ from the Two Oceans Aquarium to the Green Point lighthouse and back on African Penguin Awareness Day, Saturday 12 October, raising awareness among members of the public and encouraging passing vehicles to ‘hoot for penguins’. The Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB) will also be celebrating this day by releasing rehabilitated penguins on to Seaforth Beach in Simon’s Town. Members of the public will have the opportunity to witness this special occasion at the V&A Amphitheatre via a live streaming – and also have the chance to meet the SANCCOB ambassador penguin.

“It is actually quite easy to help these birds, with their comical walk and tuxedo suits,” says Renée Leeuwner, assistant communications and sustainability manager at the Two Oceans Aquarium. “Do yourself a favour and log on to this website: www.dict.org.za. These organisations are dedicated to the conservation and rehabilitation of African penguins. You can sponsor a penguin, adopt a penguin or even buy a penguin a home.

“All of this will help to secure the future of African penguins so that, in 15 years, we won’t have to mourn the loss of another truly special and spectacular species.”

Here’s a little glimpse of the resident African penguins at the Two Oceans Aquarium, at home on the beach at the Sappi River Meander:

Keep an eye on the blog for more updates on this event closer to the time.

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