Campaign walkers to Waddle for a Week to raise awareness about endangered birds

The African penguin, this continent’s only indigenous penguin species, is in danger of becoming extinct – and it needs your help and support. Now.

Numbers of the African penguin, which is endemic to South Africa and Namibia, are rapidly declining, and this decline is accelerating exponentially. Causes include climate change, overfishing, oil pollution and, historically, penguin egg and guano collection.

There is now less than 5% of the original population remaining; numbers have declined by 80% in the past half-century, and by 60% in the past decade alone. Less than half of the minimum viable global population estimate of 50 000 breeding pairs is left.

This is why the Animal Keepers Association of Africa (AKAA) has decided to focus on the African penguin in its first annual campaign to highlight the plight of an endangered species. Through its Penguin Promises campaign, it aims to get members of the public to commit to an action that can help save the African penguin. The first step towards achieving this goal, however, is to raise awareness of the species’ dire circumstances.

Hence Waddle for a Week, during which a group of intrepid walkers will take on the 122km trek from Gansbaai – close to the Dyer Island penguin colony – to Simon’s Town between 23 and 28 May.

The Waddle will pass through Hermanus, Kleinmond, Betty’s Bay, Pringle Bay, Gordon’s Bay and Muizenberg before ending at the penguin colony at the world-famous SANParks Boulders Beach in Simon’s Town, where African penguins and humans harmoniously share sand and surf.

Penguin Promises is supported, among others, by the National Zoological Gardens (NZG) in Tshwane, uShaka Sea World in Durban, the Two Oceans Aquarium in Cape Town, the African Association of Zoos & Aquaria (PAAZAB), the Dyer Island Conservation Trust, Penguin Watch, the South African National Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB) and SANParks.

Waddle for a Week is the brainchild of Gabby Harris, of Ushaka Sea World, and Hayley McLellan, of the Two Oceans Aquarium, who had been set a challenge by AKAA chairperson Robynn Ingle-Möller, of the NZG.

In the space of a month, they have organised Waddle for a Week – and support so far for the initiative has been phenomenal, says McLellan. “This little idea that we had, has just exploded. We have received so much support already from members of the public, and through sponsorships for clothing, shoes and accommodation,” she enthuses. During the Waddle, the core group of walkers will take the time to raise awareness wherever they go about the African penguin. And they want members of the public to walk with them, if only for short distances, and particularly on the last day. “We are encouraging anyone and everyone to join us, and to make a promise to do something for the African penguin,” says McLellan. “And to make even more of an impact during the walk, we are asking people to wear black-and-white clothing.”

Johannesburg businessman John Werth, one of two AKAA regents and a man passionate about the critical conservation work done by animal keepers, has called on the public to support the Waddle for a Week team in their quest to raise awareness about the plight of the African penguin. “Animal keepers are our links, our eyes, as far as conservation goes. The work that they do is of immeasurable importance, and all of us have a duty to support them in preserving the environment not only for ourselves, but for every living creature out there. “In terms of the African penguin, that means taking a stand now – and we can all easily make a difference, from only buying sustainable seafood to reducing the amount of plastic and other waste we generate, to lobbying for greater protection of this unique African bird species.

“We believe that we have to involve communities in this initiative. People don’t want just to be educated about conserving the African penguin and other fauna and flora; they want to make a contribution, and Waddle for a Week gives them that opportunity,” says Werth, who praises McLellan and Harris for their great energy, and uShaka Sea World and Two Oceans for their considerable support for the initiative.

According to Ingle-Möller, the AKAA initiative enjoys the crucial endorsement of its parent regional association, the African Association of Zoos & Aquaria (PAAZAB), and support from South Africa’s leading zoos, aquaria and SANParks.  “It is most heartening to know that AKAA and its members are not undertaking Penguin Promises – and the Waddle for a Week – in isolation. That we have the full support of our leading institutions, says a lot about how important this initiative is.”

This campaign will be scientifically evaluated to ensure that it meets its objectives, and the research will help to inform future project.

People wishing to monitor the progress of the Waddle for a Week live, can do so by visiting the www.penguinpromises.com website, or following www.twitter.com/penguinpromises or www.facebook.com/penguinpromises.

People wishing to make a promise to act in support of the African penguin, can do so through the Facebook and Twitter links, or by sending an SMS prefaced by the keyword “penguin” to 34008. SMSes cost R2 each.

ENDS
Issued by Marcus Brewster Publicity on behalf of the Animal Keepers Association of Africa.
NOTES TO EDITORS:

Here is a list of some of the concerns, and some suggested promises that you can make to address the plight of the penguins:

FOOD AVAILABILITY

1. Support the Southern African Sustainable Seafood Initiative. The penguins are a part of the ecosystem.  We need to ensure that we maintain that ecosystem.  You can SMS a fish type to 079 499 8795 and they will SMS you back and let you know if this is a wise choice for the ecosystem.

For more information, please visit http://www.wwfsassi.co.za/pocketguide.pdf.

2. Only eat grain-fed chicken.

Did you know that anchovies are the primary diet for penguins?  Most of the anchovies caught by the fisheries are turned into fish meal to feed farmed fish or chicken. So if you eat chicken, make sure it is grain-fed!

HABITAT DESTRUCTION

1. Respect the penguin’s home.If you are resident in an African penguin area, respect the boundaries of their nesting sites. Lobby to ensure that the areas are not threatened.

2. Visit the penguin’s homes. There are tourism adventures in places like Boulders Beach and Betty’s Bay.  Seeing these birds in these controlled wild scenarios will inspire you to take care of them.

3. Lobby to look after the birds. Contact the authorities to ensure that they are doing their best to look after this species.

4. Get involved in coastal clean-ups. Litter in our oceans is a threat to the penguins. If you don’t live on the coast, arrange a waterway clean-up in your area.

5. Use environmentally-friendly household cleaning products. To keep the waterways clean – because all the water ends up in the sea, watch that you only put products down your drain that are friendly to the environment.

OIL POLLUTION

1. Use less plastic. Plastic products are made from oil. Relying less on oil means that it will not end up in the sea, where it is hazardous to these birds.  Here are some suggestions on how you can use less plastic. Don’t buy plastic shopping bags – reuse quality fabric bags. Don’t use plastic drinking straws. Don’t take plastic take away cutlery – keep your own with you for those takeaways. Don’t do bottled water. They are not good for the environment in so many ways, and yes, the oil industry makes the bottle.

2. Buy local products. Choose a product that you will only buy locally, perhaps food or clothing. Then it does not have to be shipped in – that means less chance of oil spills. Furthermore, the more of us that demand local, the less carbon emissions will be created.

BE PROACTIVE

Here are some proactive promises:

1. Pass on this information. The more promises we all make and keep, the greater the chance of us making a difference to the future of our environment.

2. Pick up others’ litter. Anywhere, anytime. The humility of this action inspires others. And it means the litter does not end up in the sea.

3. Make a pact to be involved in at least one environmental day this year. What about Earth Hour?

4. Become a volunteer for a conservation organisation. SANCCOB if you live in Cape Town, or a volunteer guide at uShaka Sea World in Durban.  Try your local museum or local conservancy.

5. Choose an action that will assist to reduce your carbon emissions. The lists of these are endless. Walk lightly on the Earth.

6. Stay informed about the penguin. The more we know, and share with others, there greater the chance of people effecting social change.

7. If you have a promise that is not on this list, you can send that too!!! We would love to hear it.