Community‑rooted, empathy‑driven action for African penguins on the brink #NotBy2035
| 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 |
| Happy Feet’s story is a tale of love, loss, and new beginnings, told in two unforgettable chapters. Chapter 1 In 2005, when our partner, Saprec first opened its doors, Pops became their very first rescued African penguin. Just two years later, in 2007, Happy Feet arrived, badly injured, dangerously underweight, and fighting for survival. But … Read more |
| Captain is the embodiment of courage. At first glance, you might notice what looks like a missing eyebrow, but that mark is no accident. It’s a scar, carved by the jaws of a shark during a harrowing encounter in the wild. Somehow, against all odds, Captain didn’t just escape, he endured. When he arrived, his … 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| A highlight of our March 2025 South Africa trip was releasing rehabilitated African penguins back into the wild. The Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB) invited us to help. We live for moments like this! Please enjoy the video. |
| Jade’s story began on Dyer Island in November 2022, when she was discovered abandoned as a fragile little chick. Thin, weak, and in desperate need of help, she was brought to the African Penguin & Seabird Sanctuary—a place where second chances are possible. From the start, Jade stood out. Born with a slightly skew beak, … Read more |
| Stella’s story is one of quiet strength and fierce determination. She arrived as a vulnerable chick. She was thin, fragile, and missing one eye. Her early days were marked by struggle, but Stella never gave in. With dedicated care and attention, Stella recovered and grew into a strong, confident penguin. With care, time, and a … Read more |