Backman and… Happy Feet
We hope that everyone can get to see Backman finally return to his life in the wild - waddling back to the ocean alongside Happy Feet.
Backman, the once aquaphobic penguin, is set for release after a long period of recovery at Tenikwa Wildlife Centre. Tenikwa's rehabilitation centre is currently back into full operational mode, treating injured and abandoned wild animals.
Keri McMorran, manager at Tenikwa, confirmed Backman's imminent release as the world celebrated World Penguin Day on April 25. This day celebrates all penguins, but it coincides with the annual migration of Adélie penguins in search of food as the winter months approach the Antartic region.
World Penguin Day also gave South Africans the chance to celebrate the iconic, endangered African penguin that call our coastline, and nearby islands, home. And what a torch-bearer Backman can be for the endangered species.
McMorran said that the traumatic experience Backman had gone through with a severe injury to his back 'surprisingly' left him frightened of water. The injury was most likely inflicted by a boat propeller and it left him with a serious wound on the back.
“Backman would simply not go willingly into the water. He was terrified and panicked the minute he was put into water,” said McMorran.
Backman is currently Tenikwa’s oldest penguin, but he arrived at Tenikwa as a blue, young penguin (even before his first moult) on 6 June 2022 from Robberg Vet Clinic. Tenikwa forms part of a network of rehabilitation centres along the coast who work hand-in-hand to rescue and rehabilitate penguins before returning them to sea to reduce the risk of penguin extinction.
“At first his wound had to be sterilised, debrided and cleaned, and then carefully stitched, aligning the feathers to ensure the little penguin would be waterproof once the wound had healed.
“This would ensure a quicker stay in rehabilitation. However, it was not to be. The wound tore open and revealed more extensive injury and further surgery was required. A large portion of his back had to be shaved which meant Backman would have to remain in rehabilitation until he moulted and grew new feathers,” said McMorran. The 'patient' also had to undergo laser therapy.
Backman eventually overcame his fear of water as the memory of the boat collision receded. “He was so nervous of everything at first, including fish! So this, for a penguin, is a problem! Building trust took time, but eventually he realised we were just wanting to help him,” said McMorran. “With lots of patience from the staff and time he gradually overcame his fear by starting him off in a tray of shallow water, splashing his feet, and slowly introducing him to deeper and deeper water in a trough, until one day, he simply took a dive by himself in the big pool,” said McMorran.
In November last year another penguin, which had been entangled in fishing line, was admitted to Tenikwa. She was named, Happy Feet, and soon became buddies with Backman. They spent most of their time together and became a bonded pair. A
fter contemplating whether to release Backman and Happy Feet together last year, it was decided to delay the release. Backman was put on a new regime of different vitamins to help kick-start the process of moulting.
Eventually in December 2023 Backman finally started his moult, but now it was a waiting game to find out if his feathers would fully regrow over the scar on his back - this would ensure waterproofing to the extent that he would be fit for release.
“It was the longest 18 days of our lives!” said McMorran. “Finally the wait was over… when his adult feathers grew, he was fully covered and a handsome black and white proud penguin, who was fully insulated, appeared before our eyes. After his moult he soon became ravenous and started to fully embrace what it was to be a real African penguin,” said McMorran.
He will be released (along with Happy Feet) almost two years after he came to Tenikwa.
“We hope that everyone can get to see little Backman finally return to his life in the wild - waddling back to the ocean alongside Happy Feet,” added McMorran.