Penguins on a diving board

A couple of young penguins being ushered along the "diving board" by an adult at the South African Marine Rehabilitation and Education Centre (SAMREC) in Cape Recife in Port Elizabeth.

Penguin Awareness Day

The African Penguins aren't having it easy.  Their numbers are declining and often those fighting for their future feels like they are fighting a loosing battle.  But they aren't giving up that fight.  There are two days a year to celebrate penguins, World Penguin Day on 25 April and Penguin Awareness Day on 20 January.  Yesterday was Penguin Awareness Day and for some reason I missed it. Darn!  If you missed it as well, why not celebrate it today to make up for it.  Visit one of the penguin colonies at Boulders in Simon's Town or the one in Betty's Bay, otherwise pop into one of the various penguin rehabilitation centres around South Africa.  I live in Port Elizabeth and the South African Marine Rehabilitation and Education Centre (SAMREC) is one of my favourite attractions around.  Well worth a visit and by doing so you support penguin conservation.

You can't help but smile when you watch a penguin

One of the things that Libby Sharwood at the South African Marine Rehabilitation and Education Centre (SAMREC) in Port Elizabeth always say is, "You can help but to smile when you watch a penguin." 

 

The African Penguin is highly endangered with only just over 20 000 breeding pairs left in the world, most of these right on my doorstep on St Croix Island in Algoa Bay.  SAMREC does an amazing job both in the care and rehabilitation of birds that come to them as well as with the education side through schools and visitors (both local and international) that visit the centre.  They do need people to do so much more than smile though.  They need people to act and the easiest way to act is to visit SAMREC as every cent made through the entrance fees collected goes straight back into penguin conservation at the centre.  Even better, adopt a penguin or sponsor one of the solar panels for their Penguins go Green project.