These penguins are lucky they were taken to SANCCOB for care.
When I arrived, there were penguins, in their black and white cozzies (that’s South African for “bathing suits”), hanging around the pool area. Several, faces to the warm sun, were catching some afternoon rays. Others were showing off their swimming skills. One was looking for a waiter to bring her a drink and a snack. I’m sure they were thinking, “Life is good!”
African Penguins pending the day at the pool.
And that’s a good thing, because these poor little birds have had a rough time. They’re guests of SANCCOB (the South African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds) because they’ve been injured, orphaned, or were found sick.
The goal of this group is to help South African seabirds for the benefit of present and future generations. In addition, they work on research projects to learn more about birds, AND give classes to children, teachers, and the public to help them understand the important part birds play in the coastal ecosystem. What wonderful work these people are doing!
Volunteers help prepare lunch for the birds.
When an injured bird arrives, it’s weighed, checked by the veterinarian, given medicine, food, and a safe, clean place to live. It’s looked after at SANCCOB until it’s ready to make it on its own out in the wild.
A penguin must even pass a test before it’s released. It must be able to swim for one hour. This helps the workers know that the penguin is healthy enough to survive on its own in its natural habitat (the beach and ocean around South Africa). If you’re surprised to hear there are penguins in Africa, click here.
Carole, SANCCOB’s Education Manager, told me that African penguins are “indicator species”. That means, if people notice many penguins dying, it indicates there’s something wrong with the local ocean ecosystem. Let me explain. You know penguins eat fish, right? If many fish die because the water is becoming warmer from climate change, or if it’s becoming too polluted from trash or poisons, or if overfishing takes too many fish out of the ocean, our penguin friends won’t have enough to eat. Then many penguins die, and the population decreases.
The SANCCOB workers are trying to increase the African Penguin population. The birds are an endangered species. In addition to nursing them back to good health, they also raise penguin chicks until they’re big and strong enough to take care of themselves. Then they take them to a place where there are other penguins, like Boulders Beach or Foxy Beach, and release them.
Penguins are given bands so the staff can keep track of them.
Some of the penguins are tagged or have a GPS signaling device attached to them, so the researchers can learn more about their lifestyle. They’ve discovered that some of the penguins swim all the way from South Africa to Namibia and back!
Education Manager, Carole Olivier, and Ms. Christie-Blick at SANCCOB.
It’s good to know there are people like Carole and the SANCCOB organization looking after the earth’s precious animals, and helping people to understand that all life is interconnected in food webs, don’t you think?
Click here to learn more about SANCCOB and to view their gallery of pictures.
These birds are so nice. I am glad people are taking care of the penguins.
I did not know that penguins could live in africa i thought penguins needed ice to survive and I don’t think there is ice in africa
Im so glad that people are protecting penquins. People should protect all endangered animals.
Now I know that penguins don’t just live in the cold. They also live in South Africa, where it’s hot!
The penguins are so cute! I am so happy that they are taking good care of them.
i did not know that penguins also live in warm weather i thought they were only in cold weather. (:
I did not know penguins live in Africa
I love those little penguins. We need to stop polluting our oceans that way our ecosystems stay balanced. Our oceans need to stay clean so us and other animals stay clean. 🙂
i did not know that penguins could live in warm weather, and i did not know that seagulls attacked them.
I did know that 🙂
Me Too
I had no idea that some penguins lived in places that aren’t cold. It’s kinda cool
I t i s c o o l r i g h t 🙂 🙂
Hearing about this penguin problem made me so upset. Penguins are so cute and they’re lives are being disturbed and they’re dying. Even though that this is happening, because penguins are appealing to people it’ll be easier to get support from people. In these penguins tough situation, they’re looks are a key aspect to getting help. It’s also great that people are making such a great effort to help them. 🙂
Thats amazing! I’m glad people are helping penguins, and I never knew there were penguins in Africa!
pengwins rule
Penguins definitely rule some South African beaches.
Yes, penguins definitely rule some South African beaches.
i did not know that from fishing pegwins lose food
Aww!! How cute! It’s amazing what those people do to help these little fluff-balls. I just want to cuddle them!!! 😀
I never knew that penguins were swimming in warm waters. I though that penguins only were swimming in cold waters.
The woman’s accent in the Carole: ” Change starts with you!” Was so pretty!!
Those penguins are so cute! the squeaking gets annoying after a while. I think it is so cool how they have a place for injured birds.
I wonder what penguins think? How do they think compared to us?
They are so adorable!!!!! I am so happy people are doing this for the penguins. Small or big every little life matters. 🙂
Those penguins are so adorable, ( I can understand why they are annoying though ) and are hilarious!
These penguins are adorable+ funny! I never knew that there was a oragnization for injured penguins. What a great idea.
I think the screaming pinguein would definitly get good service if he did that for a while.
The penguins are so cute and there really loud I wonder how loud they are when your actually there with them. 🙂
the penguins are sooo cute! I am so glad people take care of them 🙂
Those penguins are so cute! It is such a nice thing they are doing for the penguins.