Happy feet forward

Conservationists had reason to celebrate when the Nature's Valley Trust and partners hosted its 10th penguin release recently.

When the penguins were released on Lookout Beach on 16 November, it also marked the 80th penguin having been released as part of this initiative.

These efforts are being done to counter dwindling African penguin numbers. According to research, in the 1950s there were about 141 000 African penguins, but 60 years down the line there are only 19 300. Some of the main causes for this decline include overfishing, with competition from commercial fisheries that catch fish such as sardines, anchovies, and herring. Another major cause is habitat destruction caused by an increase in urban sprawl and historical over exploitation. This includes extraction of eggs and nesting material used by humans for fertiliser.

Most of the penguins found in the Southern Cape are believed to be from the Port Elizabeth penguin colony and have ended up in the area on their quest to find food. Food appears to be plentiful in the Plett area while other areas are showing signs of food-source dwindling.

In Plettenberg Bay, these penguins are found feeding around the coast and often wash up on local beaches. This is due to factors such as dehydration, exhaustion, arrested moult or illness.

These birds are then rehabilitated at the Tenikwa Wildlife Rehabilitation and Awareness Centre on the outskirts of

Plettenberg Bay where they are nursed back to health.

Tenikwa and the Nature's Valley Trust, along with other stakeholders including Wessa beach stewards, CapeNature, the Orca Foundation and BirdLife Plettenberg Bay, then systematically release these penguins back into the wild.

Fourteen penguins made their way back to the ocean during the most recent release. The group included three adults and 11 juveniles. “They were happy to get back in the water. One of the adults took the lead down to the water and the rest followed,” Nature's Valley Trust's Brittany Arendse said.

“We have penguins year-round in our waters. It is important to note that they only come ashore when breeding or if they are in need.”