Beach (entry here is charged), and a fence kept
the penguins from wandering inland. Another
boardwalk takes visitors down to Foxy Beach.
This place is penguin central—a blur of black and
white adults, andfluffy grey chicks. While some
of the birds feed, others rest and dry themselves,
and some others stand guard on the perimeter,
watching out for predators.
SANParks, too, keeps a watch for molting
season, predators, and abandoned babies. The
South African Foundation for the Conservation of
Coastal Birds (SANCCOB;sanccob.co.za) helps in
the monitoring and rehabilitation of these birds.
“Any oiled, injured, or diseased penguins, or eggs
or chicks in nests found in vulnerable areas, are
sent to us for incubating, hatching, raising, and
release. Chicks that are taken in from the wild
are hand-reared and released once they are ready
to cope on their own (about three-four months
of age). They are released at the same age and
developmental stage as chicks in the wild leave
their parents,” says Dr Lauren Waller, Leiden
Conservation Fellow, SANCCOB. Every October,
they also host the African Penguin Awareness
Day, which includes a public penguin release and
educational programme.
Another NGO working for the cause on a large
scale is BirdLife South Africa(birdlife.org.za).
“We address the core threats that are affecting all
penguins,” says Andrew de Blocq, Coastal Seabird
Conservation Project Oicer. The contemporary
threats to penguins include sub-optimal breeding
habitats, occasional oiling, predators, climate
effects, and the primary one, food scarcity. Their
work involves creating new colonies for penguins
and dealing with the threat of fishing. “We are
trying to encourage fisheries to fish more in the
southeast because that is where the main fish
stock is, and this would also ease pressure on the
west-coast penguins,” says Blocq.
At the moment, it appears the penguins are
unaware of the threat of extinction. They seem
happy enough, just not the kind you would see
inHappy Feet. “The movie has given children
the wrong idea. They come here expecting to see
them dance, and then get disappointed. There’s
more to the penguins than what’s shown in the
movies,” says Monsoon.
I agree. Spending a day with the penguins,
watching them waddle about their daily
lives, is more fascinating than any plot of a
Hollywood movie.THE DETAILS
GETTING THERE
Connecting flights
run between major
Indian metros and
Cape Town. Simon’s
Town is 45 kilometres
from the capital;
take a train to Kalk
Bay, followed by a
15-minute cab ride
from there.
STAY
One & Only
Cape Town
(oneandonlyresorts.
com) on Dock Road
and Taj Cape Town
(taj.tajhotels.com)
near St George’s Mall
are good options for a
comfortable stay with
magnificent views of
the Table Mountain.
SEASON
The best time to visit is
between October and
March—the likelihood
of rain is low, and
the breeding season
begins in February.A fence at Boulders Beach
keeps the penguins from
wandering inland.
ICHAUVEL/GETTYIMAGESCONSERVATION TRAVEL
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