On Saturday 12 October we celebrate African Penguin Awareness Day. We have organised a fun-filled day of activities aimed at raising awareness about our black-and-white feathered friends.
The day will kick off with a Mini-Waddle from the Two Oceans Aquarium to the Green Point Lighthouse. This 5km route provides great views across Table Bay to Robben Island, and young, old and the four-legged are welcome to join. Our wonderful penguin mascot, Samantha, will pop in and join the Waddlers on their walk. Dress up in black and white and join us at the Aquarium from 08h30 for coffee, juice and face painting for the little ones. The Mini-Waddle will start at 09h30 and should be finished around 11h00 depending on how fast you waddle!
The rest of the day will see the Aquarium abuzz with penguin crafts and puppet shows. Visitors will also be encouraged to make a Penguin Promise (visit www.penguinpromises.com for more information about this campaign).
Other organisations are also doing their bit to celebrate the African Penguin. SANCCOB (the South African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds) is taking the party to the streets. On 12 October the Penguin Festival will take place at Simon’s Town’s Boulders Beach Lodge and Restaurant. The festival will be opened with the release of a group of rehabilitated penguins at Seaforth Beach at 10h00. All public and media are welcome.
This wonderful heart-warming event will be streamed live to the amphitheatre in the V&A Waterfront between 09h30 and 11h30. Visitors to the amphitheatre will also have the opportunity to meet a live penguin on the amphitheatre stage. Back in Simon’s Town, the festival will include snake and raptor shows, the chance to meet a real penguin and enviro-games, while there will be great prizes to be won for the whole family. The Penguin Festival takes place between 11h00 and 15h00.
If you are in Durban on 12 October, why not pop in at uShaka Sea World and celebrate African Penguin Awareness Day with them? They will have a penguin themed celebration during the dolphin show and will be selling reusable shopping bags at cost price. They will have a “Penguin Station’ in the retail section where they will be inviting visitors to make a penguin promise. uShaka staff, dressed in black and white, will be showing their support for African penguins with a parade through the retail section, onto the beach front (10h45 and 13h45). Local band, Customized will play Open your eyes, the Penguin Promises theme song, at Wahooz on the beachfront during the parade.
It is easy to support our endangered African penguins:
- Make a promise at www.penguinpromises.com – a promise that you know you can keep (easy examples – stop using single-use plastic bags, stop using straws, eat only sustainably sourced seafood, etc.)
- Wear black and white on 12 October and show your support
- Join the activities listed above
We hope to see you on 12 October!
Stay in touch: For daily Aquarium updates, talk to us on Twitter (@2OceansAquarium) and become a fan on Facebook.
