Time is really flying by so fast. We are less than two weeks away from the fifth annual Waddle for a Week. Have you made your promise yet? Remember, when many people make small changes, collectively they have a big impact. So, make your promise, keep it and be part of the solution!
The Waddle for a Week raises awareness about the plight of the endangered African penguin. An initiative of Penguin Promises, the Waddle encourages people not necessarily to donate money (although of course it's welcome), but rather to promise to make a behavioural change that will benefit the environment where African penguins live.
While 100 years ago there were more than 1.5-million African penguins swimming around, today there are only 18 000 breeding pairs left to sustain the whole population, and some scientists believe they could be extinct within the next 15-20 years.
Here are some ideas for the kind of Penguin Promise you could make:
This week we are introducing you to some of the Two Oceans Aquarium staff who will be taking part in the Waddle.
First up is Renée.
Renée Leeuwner is the Assistant Communications and Sustainability Manager at the Aquarium. She was part of the very first Waddle way back in 2011 as the driver/media liaison/go-to-for-anything team member. Four years later she is back and ready to hit the road again. Renee will again be our media liaison, blogger, tweeter, etc. “The first Waddle was an absolutely amazing experience. I remember seeing the Waddlers walk through pouring rain and nursing blistered feet. But what I remember most are the emotions that the Waddle brought to us all. I am very much looking forward to being on the road with this year's amazing group of people.” This is Renee’s second participation in the Waddle.
Introducing Shanet:
Shanet Rutgers is an animal keeper at the Aquarium who takes care of “the little waddlers, namely the penguins”. Before becoming a full-time staff member, Shanet devoted many years to volunteering her time with these birds. Shanet had this to say when motivating to be on the Waddle team: “Conservation of these precious animals is paramount, and I think it is so easy for the public to take our coastal birds for granted. We may be lucky enough that we can walk to a local beach and see our penguins, oystercatchers, seagulls and gannets now – but this is not a certainty for our future generations, whose only exposure to an African penguin may be next to the dodo and quagga in a colouring book of extinct animals.” This is Shanet’s first Waddle.
Drumroll for Jacinta:
Jacinta Subjee is the Marketing Co-ordinator for the Aquarium. Jacinta involves her family with many group activities offered by the Aquarium – from being at the last day of all our previous Waddles to beach clean-ups, we are always sure to see the Subjee family present. Being a team Waddler is a bucket list item for Jacinta and she says: “I can't think of any better way to be actively involved in drawing global attention to the plight of our penguins, and highlighting their diminishing population. "I realised that I cannot mourn the plight of the penguin population from afar but need to become a part of the movement for the preservation of our penguins.” This is Jacinta’s first Waddle.
The final introduction for this week goes to Fikile:
Fikile Sizwenya started at the Aquarium in the important role of security guard, based primarily in the penguin exhibit. The penguins won his heart, which led him to completing the intensive volunteer course and eventually applying for, and being successful in securing, a permanent post as a Visitor Services staff member. Since then Fikile and his family have taken part in every year’s final day of the Waddle. With enthusiasm Fiks tells us: “I am doing this penguin waddle because I want to make a difference for our endemic birds that are declining or disappearing, and to tell people who don’t know what the threats are that these birds are facing. I want to voice what I know, to those who don’t know, what a way of living smart is and save our birds.” This is Fikile’s first Waddle.
Along the way the waddlers will ask people to make Penguin Promises. These will be recorded on Penguin Promises cards and “posted” into the red “postbox” as seen here:
All these promises contribute to important human behavioural research. So, why not think about what YOU want to promise? Remember that the aim of these promises is to change behaviour. Keep your promise do-able, and KEEP your promise!
This is where the Waddlers will be every day. Keep track of them via Twitter (@penguinpromises, @2oceansaquarium) and Facebook (Penguin Promises, Two Oceans Aquarium). This website will also have a daily update.
You are welcome to join the Waddlers anywhere along their journey. Better yet, join them on the last day as they walk from Muizenberg (09h00 at Surfer’s Corner) to Simon’s Town (approx. 13h00 at Boulders Beach). Wear black and white and show your support for the African penguin!
Huge thanks to Old Mutual Finance for supporting Waddle for a Week 2015.
Meet the other waddlers
- Waddle for a Week 2015 – more waddlers join the cause
- Waddle you do for the African penguin? These people WALK!
Take a look at last year's Waddle
To get a good idea of what to expect during the Waddle for a Week, take a look at our day-by-day coverage from last year:
- Waddle for a Week 2014, Day One
- Waddle for a Week 2014, Day Two: Standford to Hermanus
- Waddle for a Week 2014, Day Three: Hermanus to Kleinmond
- Waddle for a Week 2014, Day Four: Kleinmond to Betty's Bay
- Waddle for a Week 2014, Day Five: Gordon's Bay to Strand
- Waddle for a Week 2014, Day Six: Muizenberg to Simon’s Town
Stay in touch: for daily Aquarium updates, follow us on Twitter (@2OceansAquarium) and become a fan on Facebook.
