Ocean the African Penguin gives Londi Shezi and Zama Shandu last minute tips as they prepare for the 5th Annual African Penguin Awareness Waddle
uShaka Sea World colleagues Zama Shandu and Londi Shezi have taken up the challenge and will be walking 120 kilometres along the Western Cape coast to create awareness about the plight of the African Penguin.
Starting at sunrise in Gansbaai on Monday, (April 13th) they will walk an average of 20 kilometres a day for six days. They will pass through Hermanus, Kleinmont, Betty’s Bay, Strand and Muizenberg on their journey. It will end on Saturday, April 18th at the Boulders Beach penguin colony in Simons Town.
They will be joined by 14 animal keepers and other penguin enthusiasts from around the country who are committed to encouraging their fellow South Africans to urgently make lifestyle changes in order to minimize their personal environmental footprints.
As Shandu explained: “ the African penguin only has one home, one food source and one chance and it is up to us to ensure that the southern ocean coastline is a place where penguins not only survive, but thrive”.
Shezi agreed and added: “we inherited a world where nature was in a stronger position than it is now and it’s up to us to take responsibility for protecting our natural heritage. The African penguin is both an iconic animal as well as an ocean indicator species – the status of the penguin reflects the state of the ocean – and the picture doesn’t look good.”
African penguins are not found anywhere else in the world except in southern Africa and their numbers have plummeted at an alarming rate. Currently it is estimated that their numbers are lower than 40 000 which is less than half the total population of 10 years ago. The African penguin could become extinct within the next 14 years should environment conditions not improve.
There are many possible reasons for their recent decline. These include depletion of fish stocks due to over fishing, climate change and pollution. Shandu and Shezi have been training for the past few months and are ready for both the physical challenge as well as the environmental challenge. Follow them on www.penguinpromises.com
It is easy for South Africans to help the African penguin and the waddlers by simply making a promise to make a change in their daily lives. These promises can be channelled through the Penguin Promises campaign and need to be submitted to ipromise@penguinpromises.com.
Promises should be kept simple and do-able – for example, not using single use shopping bags, swapping your bath for a quick shower, only eating sustainably sourced seafood and always placing your litter in the bin.
For further information, contact Ann Kunz on ann@seaworld.org.za or 031 – 328 8152 or 083 392 4147