Two Oceans Aquarium Assistant Communications and Sustainability Manager Renée Leeuwner is a keen blogger, a member of the Aquarium’s Green Team and the voice behind our Twitter profile. Renée has joined Two Oceans Aquarium Senior Bird Trainer Hayley McLellan and uShaka Sea World’s Gabby Harris as they Waddle for the African penguin; she’ll be live-blogging and tweeting about the Waddle on the road!
It’s done!
We’ve arrived! The Penguin Promises Waddle for a Week has come to an end.
Everyone made it in one piece and the Waddlers’ spirits remain high.
This morning, we were joined by about 40 other waddlers from all walks of life. Together, they set off from Muizenberg and unfortunately, only a couple of kilometres further, the rain came down and everyone got drenched.
That didn’t stop them, though, and onwards they went. The group arrived at Boulders Beach Lodge just after 11h00. After some sparkling wine and a couple of speeches, the group set off to see the birds that the whole Waddle was about.
Down the boardwalk and off to the penguin breeding colony at Boulders Beach.
We’ve come full circle. From Gansbaai, where the Dyer Island colony is; stopping at Stony Point at Betty’s Bay and visiting the colony there; and today, Boulders Beach.
As we walked along the boardwalk we saw adult birds sitting on their nests, incubating eggs or feeding their young and sheltering them from the icy wind that had unexpectedly started to blow across the beach.
It was worth every minute of the walk. Every step taken, every blister on every foot; every aching muscle and every tear cried.
We have arrived.
Seven Waddlers from various organisations (Two Oceans Aquarium, uShaka Sea World, National Zoological Gardens Pretoria, SANCCOB and Gold Reef City) are walking from Gansbaai to Simon’s Town to raise awareness about the plight of the African penguin. Pledge your support by sending an SMS with the keyword PENGUIN, followed by your promise, to 34008. Follow them on Twitter @penguinpromises, Facebook and www.penguinrpomises.com.
Penguin promises: Waddle for a Week
- Penguin Promises: Waddle for a Week Day 1 (23 May 2011)
- Penguin Promises: Waddle for a Week Day 2 (24 May 2011)
- Penguin Promises: Waddle for a Week Day 3 (25 May 2011)
- Penguin Promises: Waddle for a Week Day 4 (26 May 2011)
- Penguin Promises: Waddle for a Week Day 5 (27 May 2011)
More blogs about the African penguin
- Waddle you do for the African Penguin?
- African penguin numbers at an all-time low
- Ambassador Ayoba arrives at Aquarium
- African Penguin Awareness Day
- A special day for African penguins
- Photo essay: Zuki, our resident African penguin
- Photo essay: Zuki’s got mad soccer skills
- Q&A with Senior Bird Trainer Hayley McLellan
More blogs by Renée
- Waddle you do for the African Penguin?
- Stranded turtles: What to do
- Pleased to meet you: Shoreline Café Chef de partie Evelyn Tholi
- Pleased to meet you: Membership Co-ordinator Amina Hoosain
- Meet the teacher: Xavier Zylstra
- Farewell Ivan
- A special day for African penguins
- From Brunei to Bellville, banish rubbish from beaches
- It’s a fish eat fish world
- Joseph the cheetah visits the Aquarium
- Aquarium staff rub shoulders with Leon Schuster!
- Two Oceans Aquarium: A photo essay
