Community‑rooted, empathy‑driven action for African penguins on the brink #NotBy2035
shannon.duplessis 
| At KruShan Foundation, we don’t dream of becoming an empire. We are just the right size to notice what matters, move quickly, and stay connected to the soul of our mission. We’re not a sprawling nonprofit juggernaut with a labyrinth of departments and diluted mission statements. We’re a tight, focused, wildly collaborative organization where every … Read more |
| Named for the light they’re bringing to a species on the brink, two African penguins, Beacon and Sunshine, are making remarkable recoveries after being rescued from dire circumstances along South Africa’s Southern Cape. African penguins are critically endangered and Carol Walton, founder of the Seabird and Penguin Rehabilitation Centre (Saprec) is a vital lifeline. Saprec … Read more |
| 2025 is shaping up to be a big year for regulations to give critically endangered African penguins a fighting chance. Earlier this year, the South African government instituted meaningful no-take fishing zones. Now the government is proposing stricter regulations for ship-to-ship fuel transfers, a source of oil and noise that threatens fragile marine ecosystems. Ship-to-ship … Read more |
| When it comes to protecting a species, sometimes the most powerful tool isn’t a slick video or a viral post. It’s a conversation. Eye to eye, heart to heart, in-person. That’s why we step into classrooms, boardrooms, libraries, breweries, and community centers; any space where humans gather, to bring these critically endangered birds into people’s … Read more |
| Scientific name: Spheniscus demersus Class: Aves Order: Sphenisciformes Family: Spheniscidae We are “banded” penguins, because of the black band over our chest our closest cousins are the Humboldt and Magellanic and Galapagos penguins. The number and arrangement of the black spots on our white chest and belly are unique to each African penguin, much like a human fingerprint. Scientists use … Read more |
| Elvis is a grumpy legend with a comeback story. When he first arrived, Elvis was in rough shape; thin, frail, and nursing a deep, painful wound on his left shoulder from a seal bite. The injury left him unable to swim or feed himself. It seemed like his independence might be gone for good. But … Read more |
| Biltong is a survivor with style. As a chick, she endured a traumatic head injury and a broken jaw. Her ordeal that would have sidelined most. But Biltong fought through it, and though her beak healed with a more pronounced top hook, it only adds to her unique look. That curved beak is now her … Read more |
| Empathy is a force to be reckoned with, not a soft-hearted liability. It’s what allows us to extend our concern beyond immediate self-interest, beyond borders, beyond species. And that’s exactly why caring about African penguins, even if they don’t waddle through your backyard, is a testament to the power of empathy. Empathy stretches our perspective. … Read more |
| As of today, May 16, 2025, 55 websites carried stories with headlines such as: Penguin blamed for helicopter crash in revenge for Trump tariffs…?! How a penguin in a box caused a helicopter to crash in South Africa Helicopter crash in South Africa blamed on ‘unsecured’ penguin Penguin in passenger seat sent helicopter crashing into … Read more |
| What if we reframe conservation as an economic benefit, rather than an obstacle? If the African penguin were to become extinct in the wild, South Africa’s brand reputation as an environmentally healthy destination, famed for its natural assets, would suffer according to a study commissioned by The Endangered Wildlife Trust and the Department of Forestry, … Read more |