Just chillin like a penguin

Have you ever wondered how you can save a penguins live or make a difference? Do you even know that the climate change is putting these little cute creatures lives in danger?

A few days ago we decided to take a drive past Blouberg and for some reason I just wanted to see some penguins, so I took my phone and googled where the closest penguins are.. Like most other people we most likely would have driven to Boulder's Beach, but then Google maps showed that SANCCOB was close by. So out of curiosity we decided to stop by and have a look, not knowing that it would be one of the most educational stops in my life!

Who and what is SANCCOB?

SANCCO stands for Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds.

Who is part of numerous marine #conservation projects and all their projects strive to contribute towards healthy, wild seabird populations through rehabilitation and research, and by raising awareness of marine life and the environment it depends on. They also work actively with SANParks, CapeNature and Robben Island Museum Colony Managers who monitor established seabird nesting sites and identify abandoned chicks and eggs. In emergency situations, such as a major oil spill, their 24 hour rescue service is augmented by teams of trained volunteers. The also educate the public to develop behavioural patterns which benefit marine life and the environment.

The volunteers where busy feeding some of the chicks they saved at Boulder's Beach. They are very strict about keeping them wild, as they won't be able to survive in the wild again once they have been tamed! Like us, some of them get's a bit lazy, so everyday they have to "do some cardio." They put the penguins in a pool and close the gate, so the penguins are forced to swim around for a bit. It is actually very good for them, because as I said they get lazy and would just chill in the sun without staying active. They also test and make sure that the penguins stay waterproof, by going through their feathers after they have done their swim training and see if somewhere the water went through. Obviously if they are not waterproof they can't be released into the wild again, because imaging swimming in the ocean without a wet-suit, you'd die! Well so will penguins!

They also have an emergency center where they do operations on penguins and other birds and also incubators they use to hatch penguins. It's a pretty cool place to visit, and after I walked out of there I really knew much more about these cute little fellas than i did before!

Anyone of the public can stop by and you can also volunteer to help! So if you want more information simply click here! If you are ever in the Table View-area make sure to pop in!

Did you know:

Image: Public Co/Pixabay

The penguin’s black back makes them more difficult to spot while at sea. When seen from above they disappear in the dark blue of the ocean, while their white bellies help them to blend in when seen from below, against the bright sky. Helping penguins to be invisible to predators and prey alike.