The Two Oceans Aquarium family waddled for the African penguin

On International African Penguin Awareness Day, our Two Oceans Aquarium family waddled together in support of the African penguin!

The #NotOnOurWatch campaign was launched in March 2022 to shed light on the plight of the critically endangered African penguin. Not only is this iconic seabird the only penguin species on the African continent, but it is also one of Cape Town’s most recognisable species, a huge tourism drawcard, and an integral part of our unique ocean ecosystem. Unfortunately, their numbers have declined dramatically in the last century, with an estimated ~8 750 breeding pairs in the wild today. If this decline continues, the African penguin will be functionally extinct by 2035.

In support of #NotOnOurWatch and the future of the African penguin, we waddled with Guardians of the Deep and SANCCOB from Long Beach to Seaforth Beach in Simon’s Town on Saturday, 12 October. Along with our community of waddlers, we aimed to give a voice to this charismatic seabird and inspire collective action for its preservation and protection!

On the morning of the waddle, our starting point at Long Beach in Simon’s Town was a hive of activity. The face-painting station was the most popular first stop for the excited waddlers, with young and old receiving adorable penguin “tattoos”. Samantha, our African penguin mascot, danced to the music and posed for photos. At the same time, Two Oceans Aquarium staff mingled with the waddlers, chatting to them about the plight of the African penguin.

Heather Wares, our Communications Manager, hyped the crowd up while reminding them of the reason for the waddle: Protecting the future of the African penguin. With that, the intrepid waddlers began the walk to Seaforth Beach.

Throughout the waddle, the crowd’s energy was unmatched, from chants of “save the penguins” to entire families dressed as penguins. This enthusiasm only grew the closer we got to the finish!

The final stretch of the waddle took everyone along the boardwalk bordering Boulder’s Beach, where they could spot wild African penguins resting in the shade. In one section, waddlers got the chance to see more than 11 penguin chicks all nestled together in a creche! This was a wonderful reminder of why we were waddling.

Finally, the waddlers reached the finish line at Seaforth Beach, where the vibes culminated in a festive prizegiving (penguin plushies, Aquarium tickets, and cool reusable bags!) and a final message of hope for the African penguins from the Aquarium and our partners, Guardians of the Deep and SANCCOB.

Our communities came together in force to celebrate African Penguin Awareness Day. We are so grateful to Guardians of the Deep and SANCCOB for helping us execute such a successful waddle. What a marvellous way to raise awareness for the plight of the critically endangered African penguin.