The Penguin-Pals Project is going to help so many penguins get the help they need thanks to Betty’s Bay residents who have volunteered to transport penguins to rescue facilities! Not only will they be playing a helpful role as penguin ‘Uber drivers’, but they’ll also be saving rescue staff a lot of time.

Betty’s Bay, South Africa (06 March 2024) — The Southern African Foundation For The Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB) is getting a helping hand from the Betty’s Bay community thanks to residents who have volunteered their time to be part of the Penguin-Pals Project!

SANCCOB is responsible for rescuing and rehabilitating many of South Africa’s seabirds. But, there are only so many staff members. Journeys to assist penguins in need often mean many hours on the road, which in turn leaves staff members unable to help other seabirds while trekking these distances.

As Tim Elliot of the Betty’s Bay Conservancy (BBC) shares:

“Up until now SANCCOB have had no option but to send one of their own staff from Betty’s Bay all the way in to Tableview, in Cape Town, in the event of an injured or sick penguin or other seabird. Everyone at the Stony Point Nature Reserve has enough on their plate without sitting in a vehicle for the three hour plus round trip.” 

This is where the Betty’s Bay community have decided to help lighten the load of responsibility. As part of BBC’s Penguin-Pals Project, residents have offered to share their time and transport any struggling seabirds to Somerset West—a big chunk of the distance that will undoubtedly help staff members save on time and transport expenses.

Training was underway in late February for the Penguin-Pals’ volunteers.

“There was a lot of enthusiasm and excitement at the prospect of being involved and being able to help constructively,” adds Tim. 

This initiative displays not only how a little help can go a long way (quite literally), but also sets the path for future Penguin-Pals Projects outside of Betty’s Bay! Word at the colony is, SANCCOB may also need some volunteers in Gordons Bay too, so don’t be afraid to spread the word!

Sources: Betty’s Bay Conservancy

Don’t ever miss the Good Things. Download the Good Things Guy App now on Apple or Google. 

Do you have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook & Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes & hear their incredible stories:

Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

The post Betty’s Bay Residents Volunteer to Transport Penguins in Need! appeared first on Good Things Guy.

The first penguin rescue of the year that headed to SANCCOB saw a moulting juvenile in the wrong place at the right time. Thanks to a marine wildlife hero, this rescue has meant the penguin is in a safe space and its adult plumage is looking dapper!

Cape Town, South Africa (31 January 2024) — The first penguin rescue of the year for SANCCOB tells the story of a young penguin, the journey to a decent place to moult, and a little info about this stage of a penguin’s life! 

Earlier this month, a juvenile African penguin likely looking for a safe place to moult, found itself outside the Radisson Blue in Cape Town. For those who haven’t been to the Aquarium in a minute, moulting refers to the ‘out with the old, in with the new’ feathers stage of a penguin’s year. For juveniles, this moulting plumage is considered the last stop before becoming a fully-fledged penguin. Importantly, during moulting time, penguins can’t swim. 

So, when this juvenile penguin was spotted in the water outside a hotel likely on the search for land, Martine Viljoen, the Marine Wildlife Management Programme Assistant at the Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation, understood the assignment. 

Martine was eventually able to facilitate the rescue with a net on a slipway at The Water Club. She tells Good Things Guy that the Juvenile Arrested moulter weighed in at 3.66kg and was mildly dehydrated with small cuts on the feet and an injured top eyelid. 

Martine and the Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation knew that the penguin needed a safe space to complete the moult, so naturally SANCCOB (The Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds) would soon be getting a visit. 

When they arrived, the freshly rescued penguin got the number AP001—making it the first penguin rescue of 2024 at SANCCOB.

Updating Good Things Guy, Martine shared that AP001 has now completed its moult.

“[AP001] is looking beautiful in their new adult plumage with its first black and white colouration. AP001 is currently a 1 hour swimmer in SANCCOB Rehab pens, meaning their waterproofing is looking good enough to hopefully be signed off for release soon.”

Sources: Martine Viljoen 

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Do you have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook & Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes & hear their incredible stories:

Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

The post The First Penguin Rescue of 2024 Went Swimmingly! appeared first on Good Things Guy.

As South Africans flock to start lives in the Western Cape, finding worthy animal welfare causes to support can seem daunting, but not with this list!

Western Cape, South Africa (13 January 2024) – There are thousands of people working with hundreds of organisations in the Western Cape, all with the goal of supporting as many animals as possible. Our comprehensive charity list grows and evolves every year as we add more good causes to the list. This is the 2024 list for the Western Cape province.

The Good Things Guy team has been working on these charity lists since the start of the pandemic in 2020. They were created as tools to help people find help or offer it to causes close to their hearts. Over the years, the demand for these lists has grown and today, we are excited to share our lists for 2024.

Our charity list was usually one long one but we have found, with the help of insightful readers, that one list is too much to work through. This year we are splitting the list into various categories. This list features all the animal welfare organisations we have featured over the years and can vouch for.

We are doing things a little differently this year. We now have nine animal charity lists, one for each province and a tenth featuring South Africa as a whole. Below are all the organisations that work in Western Cape to make a difference, you can find the other provinces here.

If we have missed an organisation or charity, please email tyler@goodthingsguy.com and we will add it soonest; kindly supply the relevant links as well as which province they work in, the NPO registration details and a brief description of what the organisation does.

Please note that this is a working list, so keep sending through your charities, and we will keep adding them!

These charities include all kinds of animal welfare organisations. We have simplified the search process for you by adding the following codes:

B – Birds, C – Cats, D – Dogs, F – Farm, H – Horses / Donkeys, W – Wildlife, and O – Other.

• 1 Kennel at a time (Working in Ocean View, Western Cape) (C,D) – Facebook
• African Tails (Working in Brooklyn) (D) – Website / Facebook
• Aid 4 Animals In Distress (Working in Cape Town) (C,D) – Facebook
• Animal Anti-Cruelty League (Working in Cape Town) (C,D,H) – Facebook
• Animal Lifeline (Working in Cape Town) (C,D) – Website / Facebook
• Animal Rescue Organisation (Working in Ottery) (C,D) – Facebook
• Animal Welfare Society of SA (Working in Cape Town) (All) – Website / Facebook
• Boggle and Brux Rescue (Working in Cape Town) (O) – Facebook
• Cape Dachshund Rescue (Working in Cape Town) (D) – Facebook
• Cart Horse Protection Association (Working in Cape Town) (H) – Website / Facebook
• Change for the Better Foundation (Working in Brackenfell) (C,D) – Facebook
• Cheryl Lyn’s Rescue Organisation (Working in Table View) (C,D) – Website / Facebook
• DARG (Working in Hout Bay) (C,D) – Facebook
• Dead Animals Walking (Working in Durbanville) (D) – Website / Facebook
• EARS Donkey Sanctuary (Working in Greyton) (H) – Website / Facebook
• Eseltjiesrus Donkey Sanctuary (Working in McGregor) (H) – Website / Facebook
• Feral Cat Project Cape Town (Working in Cape Town) (C) – Facebook
• Fur-Get-Me-Knot (Working in Westlake) (C,D) – Website / Facebook
• Foster Furry Rescue (Working in the Southern Peninsula) (C) – Facebook
• Grabouw Animal Welfare Society (Working in Grabouw) (D) – Facebook
• Greyton Farm Animal Sanctuary (Working in Greyton) (F) – Website / Facebook
• HART (Working in Helderberg) (C,D) – Website / Facebook
• Have a Heart Equine Sanctuary (Working in Bonnievale) (H) – Website / Facebook
• Help a Paw (Working in Somerset West) (D) – Facebook
• Hout Bay Seal Rescue Centre (Working in Hout Bay) (O) – Website / Facebook
• John Moore Animal Welfare (Working in Robertson) (C,D) – Website / Facebook
• Karoo Donkey Sanctuary (Working in Prince Albert) (H) – Website / Facebook
• Knysna Animal Welfare Society (Working in Knysna) (C,D) – Website / Facebook
• K9 & Bridges – Rescue (Working in Helderberg) (C,D) – Facebook
• Langebaan Animal Care (Working in Langebaan) (C,D) – Website / Facebook
• Leaps (Working in Lamberts Bay and Elands Bay) (C,D) – Website / Facebook
• Lucky Lucy Foundation (Working in Malmesbury) (C,D) – Website / Facebook
• Mdzanana Animal Clinic (Working in Khayelitsha) (C,D) – Website / Facebook
• Muddy Pooches (Working in Plettenberg Bay) (C,D) – Facebook
• Oudtshoorn Dogs in Need (Working in Oudtshoorn) (D) – Facebook
• Plett Animal Welfare Service (Working in Plettenberg Bay) (C,D) – Website / Facebook
• Piketberg Animal Care/Piketberg Dieresorg (Working in Piketberg) (C,D) – Facebook
• Pit Pals (Working in Melkbosstrand) (D) – Website / Facebook
• Raise ‘n Rescue (Working in Cape Town) (C) – Facebook
• Riebeek Animal Welfare (Working in Swartland) (C,D) – Facebook
• Safe Hands Animal Rescue (Working in Franschhoek) (C,D) – Facebook
• SANCCOB (Working in Table View) (B) – Website / Facebook
• Sidewalk Specials (Working in De Doorns) (D) – Website / Facebook
• SPCA Cape of Good Hope (All) – Facebook
• SPCA Garden Route (All) – Website
• SPCA Mossel Bay (All) – Facebook
• SPCA Paarl (All) – Facebook
• SPCA Swartland and West Coast (All) – Facebook
• SPCA Wellington (All) – Facebook
• SPCA Winelands (All) – Facebook
• Squirrel Rescue and Rehab Western Cape (W) – Website / Facebook
• Tanaka Foundation (Working in Plettenberg Bay) (D) – Facebook
• TEARS Animal Rescue (Working in Cape Town) (C,D) – Facebook
• The Majestic Beast Rescue (Working in Western Cape) (D) – Website / Facebook
• The Outreach Program (TOP) (Working in Somerset West, Gordons Bay and Strand, Western Cape) (C,D) – Facebook
• The Sushi and Panda Foundation (Working in Cape Winelands) (C,D) – Facebook
• The Underdog Project (Working in Hout Bay) (D) – Website / Facebook
• The Woof Project (Working in Cape Town) (D) – Website / Facebook
• Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation (Working in Cape Town) (O) – Website / Facebook

Sources: Various (Linked Above) 

Don’t ever miss the Good Things. Download the Good Things Guy App now on Apple or Google. 

Do you have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook & Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes & hear their incredible stories:

Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

The post All the Animal Welfare Organisations to Support in Western Cape – 2024 appeared first on Good Things Guy.

Animal welfare organisations in the Eastern Cape are working hard to treat as many animals as possible over the vast landscape, this is how we lend a helping hand.

Eastern Cape, South Africa (13 January 2024) – Every day, thousands of people work to help millions of animals in South Africa. Our comprehensive charity list grows and evolves every year as we add more good causes to the list. This is the 2024 list for the Eastern Cape province.

The Good Things Guy team has been working on these charity lists since the start of the pandemic in 2020. They were created as tools to help people find help or offer it to causes close to their hearts. Over the years, the demand for these lists has grown and today, we are excited to share our lists for 2024.

Our charity list was usually one long one but we have found, with the help of insightful readers, that one list is too much to work through. This year we are splitting the list into various categories. This list features all the animal welfare organisations we have featured over the years and can vouch for.

We are doing things a little differently this year. We now have nine animal charity lists, one for each province and a tenth featuring South Africa as a whole. Below are all the organisations that work in the Eastern Cape to make a difference; you can find the other provinces here.

If we have missed an organisation or charity, please email tyler@goodthingsguy.com and we will add it soonest; kindly supply the relevant links as well as which province they work in, the NPO registration details and a brief description of what the organisation does.

Please note that this is a working list, so keep sending through your charities, and we will keep adding them!

These charities include all kinds of animal welfare organisations. We have simplified the search process for you by adding the following codes:

B – Birds, C – Cats, D – Dogs, F – Farm, H – Horses / Donkeys, W – Wildlife, and O – Other.

• Animal Outreaches (Working in Gquberha) (C,D) – Facebook
• Animal Welfare Society PE (Working in Gquberha) (C,D) – Website / Facebook
• Blind Love Africa (Working in Bathurst) (H) – Website / Facebook
• Cat Care PE (Working in Gquberha) (C) – Facebook
• Domestic Animal Care (Working in Gquberha) (C,D) – Website / Facebook
• EL Pet Pals (Working in East London) (C,D) – Facebook
• Kei Rural Dog Project (Working in Kei Mouth, Wild Coast) (D) – Facebook
• Rietbon ACT SA (Working in Rietbon( (C,D,H) – Website / Facebook
• SANCCOB (Working in Gquberha) (B) – Website / Facebook
• Save a Pet (Working in Gquberha) (C,D) – Website / Facebook
• St Francis Animal Rescue (Working in St Francis) (C,D) – Website / Facebook
• SPCA Amahlathi (All) – Facebook
• SPCA Assisi (All) – Facebook
• SPCA East London (All) – Facebook
• SPCA Grahamstown (All) – Facebook
• SPCA King Williams Town (All) – Facebook
• SPCA Mthatha (All) – Facebook
• SPCA Port Alfred and Ndlambe District (All) – Facebook
• SPCA Uitenhage (All) – Facebook
• Transkei Animal Welfare Initiative (Working along the Wild Coast) – Facebook
• Warriors of Wildlife (Working in Jeffreys Bay) (W) – Facebook

Sources: Various (Linked Above)

Don’t ever miss the Good Things. Download the Good Things Guy App now on Apple or Google. 

Do you have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook & Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes & hear their incredible stories:

Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

The post All the Animal Welfare Organisations to Support in Eastern Cape – 2024 appeared first on Good Things Guy.

From ‘going Grinch’ to rewrapping your mind around wrapping paper, here are five sustainable ideas for an eco-friendly festive season!

Global (14 December 2023) — The festive season can be a deeply confusing time for the eco-conscious gift giver. Yes, we want to give our loved ones gifts that make them feel as special as humanly possible. No, we don’t want the planet to pay the price. Nor do we want to outdo our budgets by seeking sustainable ideas.

It’s a doozy that can make you feel more stuck than traffic in Cape Town during the peak of Dezemba.

Fear not, festive friend. There are many simple (and cost-effective) ways to still give the gift of consideration to the planet. Bonus: when you gift sustainably, you’re also giving those on the receiving end something positively impactful to think about too!

Five Sustainable Ideas for the Festive Season

1. Rest and Reduce

Reducing how much you buy is one very easy way to not be problematic this festive season. Especially if you know it won’t be affordable to make every gift one that’s eco-friendly approved. As many of us know, sustainable goods can cost more (that’s why they last!). But, by reducing how much goes into your shopping cart, you’re also allocating space to shop with intention.

The key thing here is to make gifting less fun, and that’s where games like the White Elephant Christmas Gift Game come into play at the perfect time.

2. Relish in Reusing

Reusing things to make other, often cooler things, is an epic way to not only say ‘hey, I made this for you because I care a lot!’. It’s also the best excuse to get your creative juices flowing with a little upcycling.

If you know your way around a sewing machine, try making something new out of clothes you no longer wear. Fabric scraps make for great bookmarks. Or, maybe you have a bunch of glass jars you’ve been meaning to recycle. Say hello to a new mini terrarium.

How you turn waste into wonders is up to you. But, you can find a bunch of ideas on groups like The Up-Cycled Cloth Collective.

3. Rewrap Your Mind Around Wrapping Paper

If you don’t cautiously save wrapping paper like that one friend who takes several years to open gifts (commendably), the simplest sustainable route is to opt for a fabric that can be used later. This is the Japanese method called furoshiki, which also doubles as another gift. The fabric wrap can make for a great hair accessory, kitchen accent, or even just something the receiver can use for their own future gift-giving.

4. Go Grinch

No, you don’t need to steal Christmas. But, you are going to take people’s things.

Before the days of any big events you host, ask those attending to bring items that can be recycled or upcycled. In turn, you can drop them off with people who can do a lot of good with a little waste, like:

• Tops&Tags for Wheelchairs (bottle tops and bread tags)
• Bin to Beauty or Re.Bag.Re.Use
• Pre-loved clothes for charity shops

5. Encourage Gifts That Will Never Turn to Waste

Take waste out of the conversation completely, and opt to give a gift that begets giving. What could be more sustainable than that? Virtually adopt an elephant, turtle or penguin for someone who loves animals, gift a tree in a friend’s honour or pay forward a child’s future—a gift to our country.

Sources: GTG 

Don’t ever miss the Good Things. Download the Good Things Guy App now on Apple or Google. 

Have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook & Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes & hear their incredible stories:

Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

The post Five Sustainable Ideas for an Eco-Friendly Festive Season appeared first on Good Things Guy.

Penguin AP447 has become the “little penguin that could”, overcoming the odds and surviving some pretty tough stuff; this is her story.

South Africa (24 November 2023) – AP447 was rescued from Stony Point Nature Reserve in the Western Cape. She came to SANCCOB (Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds) on the 18th of July with a serious abdominal injury which had tragically, severed her breast muscle.

The team shared her long-winded battle back to strength, showcasing how resilient African Penguins are, in a recent newsletter.

“She has endured several surgical procedures on her chest, battled with inflamed tonsils, bumblefoot and most recently, has made it through the arduous process of moulting.

At the start of her SANCCOB journey, our Veterinarian and rehabilitation staff weren’t positive about her prognosis. Within a few days however, it became evident that this penguin was a force to be reckoned with, and that she would “not go gently into that good night”.

AP447’s recovery plan included multiple surgeries, specially crafted medicinal smoothies and countless hours of physiotherapy. Blood tests and frequent progress evaluations were carried out by an awed veterinary and rehabilitation team.

This penguin is the epitome of bravery and courage, and she embodies an inconceivable will to survive.
Whilst she continues to make progress, she still has a way to go before she can be released.

Resilience in fact, seems to be a common trait among African penguins. Given the opportunity to fight and survive, they will!

SANCCOB is only able to present this incredible species with this opportunity through the donations given to us by individuals.”

AP447 is one of many penguins recovering at the facility. In the lead-up to the festive season, the team is working to raise funds to continue their work. If you would like to support AP447’s healing journey, or that of any of her friends, you can help AP447 by donating here.

Sources: Supplied

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Have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook & Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes & hear their incredible stories:

Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

The post The Little Penguin That Could – Penguins Overcomes Odds to Survive appeared first on Good Things Guy.

For those looking to purchase a gift of kindness or the heartwarming kind, SANCCOB has opened its adoptions for the festive season to help make shopping a little easier this year.

South Africa (19 November 2023) – If you are starting to plan your festive shopping, looking at charitable gifts may be the best way to spoil loved ones and better South Africa. The SANCCOB (Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds) has a flock of rescued penguins looking to be virtually adopted this festive season.

Every year we challenge ourselves, to find the perfect gift! Something meaningful and quite unique for the ones we love, to keep. This year, look no further for your loved ones – or even yourself – because you can adopt and name an African penguin and get a newly launched festive-theme certificate.

“When you adopt a penguin, you will be playing a ‘literal’ lifesaving role. Your contribution will help us provide sufficient food, veterinary care and rehabilitation for our patients. There are plenty of penguin personalities to choose from, which ensures that the selection process promises to be just as rewarding as the reaction of your loved one, upon receipt of this incredible gift! The process of a symbolic adoption is an easy one. Simply visit our online penguin gallery of birds in care, and name your penguin. Once your contribution is complete, a beautiful, personalised gift certificate is delivered straight to your inbox!

We love hearing from our penguin parents so please stay connected.”

By adopting this festive season, you enable SANCCOB’s intervention to make the recovery and release journey of this incredible species possible.

Penguin numbers across South African coastlines are in decline. This is worrying, which makes saving every penguin vital.

So if you are looking for a gift that keeps on giving this year, check out the penguin adoption options here.

Sources: SANCCOB Newsletter

Don’t ever miss the Good Things. Download the Good Things Guy App now on Apple or Google. 

Have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook & Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes & hear their incredible stories:

Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

The post SANCCOB Opens Festive Adoptions, Offering a Gift That Keeps on Giving appeared first on Good Things Guy.

If you have a penguin-shaped space in your heart and you’re determined to help this incredible seabird flourish, this weekend’s Penguin Palooza has your name on it!

Betty’s Bay, South Africa (25 October 2023) — It’s been a positive chapter for the penguins spanning local and worldwide waddle efforts. But, the penguin power continues full steam ahead with another big event on the horizon—Penguin Palooza!

CapeNature and the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB) are thrilled to announce that the highly anticipated Penguin Palooza is on and set for this weekend at Stony Point Nature Reserve, Betty’s Bay.

This will be the eighth Penguin Palooza, and will feature a penguin release, exhibitors and activities for little ones—all penguin-approved.

However, beyond the fun, the Penguin Palooza is, in essence, a big effort to keep penguin awareness on the frontlines while educating the public about the challenges that penguin species face.

Just a quick look at some recent figures reminds us how important this is. A 2023 report by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, it was revealed that only seven colonies of African penguins collectively house over 95% of the remaining population in South Africa. This highlights the status of the African penguin in South Africa, and the urgent call to help the helpers working tirelessly to preserve these species.

“The alarming rate of African penguin decline compels us to take action. Our conservation efforts offer hope for the survival of these remarkable birds, and it’s through partnerships like the one with SANCCOB that we can safeguard not only these penguins, but also other species such as Cape and bank cormorants,” emphasises CapeNature CEO, Dr Razeena Omar.

Stony Point also has a special significance beyond being a picturesque backdrop as one of the spots where a penguin and seabird ranger can be found looking out for the breeding colonies. This ranger is one of ten across the Western and Eastern Cape who ensures dedicated vigilance, monitoring and rescuing as SANCCOB CEO, Natalie Maskell explains.

Anyone and everyone with a penguin-shaped space in their heart is encouraged to pop by. For more information about the event or to get involved, contact cwindvogel@capenature.co.za or Sharnay@sanccob.co.za.

Sources: Supplied 

Don’t ever miss the Good Things. Download the Good Things Guy App now on Apple or Google. 

Have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook & Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes & hear their incredible stories:

Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

The post Penguin-Shaped Space in Your Heart? Join the Penguin Palooza  appeared first on Good Things Guy.

The biggest ever worldwide waddle is hot on our tails, and all major South African cities are getting involved:

(Cape Town, 06 October 2023) —The biggest ever worldwide waddle set to highlight the looming extinction of African penguins will span the globe, with #NotOnOurWatch events planned in countries from the USA to France, South Africa, Mozambique and Japan.

All of South Africa’s major cities are hosting big waddles for International African Penguin Awareness Day (14 October). The Two Oceans Aquarium in Cape Town will be waddling at the V&A Waterfront and has helped to arrange a waddle (in association with Marine Dynamics and I Am Water) from Simon’s Town to Boulders Beach—the home of about 9% of the African penguin population. uShaka Sea World is going large in Durban with the Point parkrun, as well as face-painting for kids and other features to look forward to.

In the concrete jungles, the Johannesburg Zoo and the Penguin Protection Parade at Emmarentia Dam will cover South Africa’s largest city, the National Zoological Garden in Pretoria will be awarding prizes and giving penguin talks during its zoo-based waddle. In Gqeberha, SANCCOB will also be waddling for the cause.

“The support has been tremendous and heart-warming and this is only the beginning,’’ Dr Judy Mann, the South African-based President of the International Zoo Educators Association, Executive Head of Strategy at the Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation and a founder of the #NotOnOurWatch African penguin survival campaign.

“Conservation is hard work and sometimes it feels like not enough people care. But with this global waddle, it’s clear that there’s a ground swell of support and people really do care about the plight of the African penguin.”

The #NotOnOurWatch, or #NOOW campaign is barely a year old, yet it has already gained important momentum.

It was conceptualised by scientists and conservationists to raise awareness and encourage the South African government to enact laws and protections to safeguard endemic African penguins—whose numbers have dropped 99% in just 100 years—from going extinct in the wild in just 12 years.

The importance of this movement has been recognised by UNESCO and the 14 October waddles have been endorsed by the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development as a Decade Activity.

“African penguins are the proverbial canaries in the coal mine. Two thirds of the penguin species in the world are threatened and the likes of South America’s Humboldt penguin is starting to face the same problems as the African penguin – dwindling food stocks, habitat destruction, climate change,’’ said Katie Propp, Chief Operations Officer at Penguins International in Colorado, USA.

“If we can fight hard enough to stave off the African penguins’ extinction, then there’s hope for other species.’’

In Colorado, there will be a virtual event for the African penguins on 10 October and later a ‘Waddle and Wine.’ Elsewhere in North America, there will be waddles at The Florida Aquarium in Tampa, with more than 1,000 people registered for its events, the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, the Louisville Zoo in Kentucky, the National Aviary in Pittsburgh and Lion Country Safaris in Loxahatchee, Florida.

The Ripley’s aquariums in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, Toronto and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina will also be doing their part to raise awareness. Then, there are the likes of Les Terres de Nataé in Pont-Scorff, France and Miyazaki City Phoenix Zoo in Japan.

These are just some of the big names. Organisations holding small waddles and events include Animal Ocean and the Sentinel Ocean Alliance in Hout Bay, Ocean Pledge in Cape Town, Secret Sunrise Durban, Century City parkrun, Divetek and Ngiri Safaris in Pretoria, Siso Dwana and SeaXplore and Sharklife in Sodwana, the Dyer Island Conservation Trust in Gansbaai, the Betty’s Bay Conservancy, the Betty’s Bay parkrun and the Kogelburg Biosphere.

Find out more about joining a waddle near you, here.

Sources: Supplied

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Have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook & Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes & hear their incredible stories:

Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

The post Biggest Ever Waddle to Save African Penguins Powering Ahead this October appeared first on Good Things Guy.

A not-so-little community waddle has gone a long way, with nearly 2000 participants joining forces to make SANCCOB’s 5km Penguin Waddle a success.

Global (01 October 2023) — How do you make a difference for penguins? Sometimes, all it takes is a willingness to waddle in the right direction. And, that’s exactly what almost 2000 people all over the world did for SANCCOB’s Penguin Waddle event last Sunday.

According to SANCCOB, with more than R18,000 raised, there were close to 2,000 individual participants locally and abroad. The in-person group that joined in Blouberg braved the chilly morning while others shared their photos from afar.

In even more good news for the penguin cause, there were twice the amount of entries than in 2022, and the organisation couldn’t be more thrilled by the support and funds raised.

The support came at just the right time considering the 24 young African penguin chicks rescued from Stony Point following the heavy rainstorms last week, as well as the 200-plus seabirds undergoing rehabilitation who will benefit greatly from the funds their two-legged, extended families facilitated.

On another penguin news note to get excited about, African Penguin Awareness Day is hot on our tails, and SANCCOB is hosting another event for the seabirds of South Africa.

On 14 October, all SANCCOB departments, along with conservation partners, will present special exhibits to showcase and talk about all things conservation, with centre tours on the cards for little more than the price of coffee.

Tours will take place every half hour from 9 am to 2 pm and bookings can be made with education@sanccob.co.za or contact 021 557 6155.

Sources: SANCCOB 

Don’t ever miss the Good Things. Download the Good Things Guy App now on Apple or Google. 

Have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook & Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good information with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes & hear their incredible stories:

Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

The post Nearly 2000 People Joined Forces for a Powerful Penguin Waddle! appeared first on Good Things Guy.