Community‑rooted, empathy‑driven action for African penguins on the brink #NotBy2035
| On Wednesday 12 November, it was time for another 12 African penguin chicks and one adult to be released back on Dyer Island, their home colony. These little ones had been removed from the island by conservation partners, CapeNature and the Dyer Island Conservation Trust/APSS teams, because their parents were moulting and unable to care … Read more |
| At the current rate of decline, African penguins could become extinct in the wild by 2035, triggering severe ecological disruptions and cascading losses across marine ecosystems. Their conservation is not only an environmental imperative but also a moral and spiritual one, rooted in the species’ intrinsic worth and our ethical responsibility to protect biodiversity. What’s … Read more |
| In July 2025, Sunshine arrived at our partner SAPREC’s facility after surviving a devastating seal attack. His right side had been torn open, leaving muscle and even his shoulder bone exposed. Thanks to the skill of the surgeon, Sunshine’s wounds were carefully repaired, and his long road to recovery began. For weeks, he lived in … Read more |
| We track metrics (outputs), such as the number of African penguins rehabilitated or the number of artificial houses provided, but measuring impact requires a deeper dive. Outputs vs. Impact: The Core Distinction Outputs Impact Tangible deliverables or activities Meaningful change resulting from those deliverables Often countable: events held, signs posted, posts shared Often qualitative or … Read more |
| The Proust Questionnaire has its origins in a parlor game popularized (though not devised) by Marcel Proust, the French essayist and novelist, who believed that, in answering these questions, an individual reveals his or her true nature. Here is the basic Proust Questionnaire, which our Chief Inspiration Officer, Waddlesworth, has graciously agreed to answer as … Read more |
| A cautionary tale, as told by Waddlesworth, Chief Inspiration Officer Ahem! May I have your attention, please? Waddlesworth here, ambassador extraordinaire of the African penguin persuasion. Ah, dear listener, gather close. The tale I’m about to tell is not for the faint of heart or flipper. It begins with eggs, ends with empty bellies, and … Read more |
| The DEEP (Dyer Island Conservation Trust Environmental Education Program) Blue Ambassadors program is a three-year engagement in partnership with Masakhane Primary and Gansbaai Primary in Gansbaai. Each year, 40 young people enroll with older students mentoring newcomers. We are proud to support this program. DEEP connects children to the ocean, science, and conservation. Although Masakhane … Read more |
| In September, a heartbreaking scene unfolded in Simon’s Town: ten critically endangered African penguins were found dead after being stung by honeybees. These birds, beloved residents of the famous Boulders Beach colony, are so vulnerable that even a single sting can be fatal. A swarm? Catastrophic. But here’s the twist: this isn’t nature at war. … Read more |
| Everyone adores Mambo. Born as the second chick in 2020, he had a rough start. His older sibling was hogging all the food, and little Mambo’s weight began to drop. To give him a fighting chance, the team made the call to hand-rear him. And wow, did he thrive. Mambo’s personality is larger than life. … Read more |
| We’re thrilled to announce a new partnership with SAPREC, the Seabird and African Penguin Rehabilitation Center in Mossel Bay, South Africa. Founded by Carol Walton in 2005, SAPREC has become a lifeline for African penguins along a critical stretch of South Africa’s southern coast. With the nearest seabird rehabilitation centers located 2.5 hours away in … Read more |