African Penguins

Protecting Penguins in the Wild

We support SANCCOB (the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds), a leading marine non-profit organization which has treated more than 90,000 oiled, ill, injured or abandoned endangered African penguins and other threatened seabirds since being established in 1968.

Every year between October and January, hundreds of small fluffy African penguin chicks are abandoned by their parents when they start their annual moult. During this time, the parents replace their old, worn-out feathers with a brand new set of waterproof feathers and are unable to hunt for fish and feed their young during the three to four week moulting process.

As a result, the chicks that have yet to fledge are abandoned and face starvation unless SANCCOB and its conservation partners intervene. The chicks spend between 6 to 12 weeks undergoing careful rehabilitation. Once they are at a fledging age, the correct weight, healthy and their feathers are waterproof, they receive the final nod of approval from the veterinary team and get released back into the wild.

With less than 2% of the original African penguin population remaining, the hand-rearing of ill and abandoned chicks is a crucial conservation intervention to help bolster the wild population.

You Can Help Protect Penguins

Sign up for a VIP Penguin behind-the-scenes experience.  The ideal experience for the penguin lover who has it all! Join our knowledgeable penguin keepers in the Wings of Wonder bird house and get to know their handsomely feathered friends.

The fun begins in the penguin’s habitat with a meet and greet, featuring the Magellanic, Rock Hopper, and King penguins. After the meet and greet, venture to our exclusive VIPenguin Room and marvel as a talented penguin artist creates a one-of-a-kind canvas art piece for you to take home and enjoy.

Funds raised support SANCCOB’s efforts to save African penguins in the wild.