When the sun is shining over Nelson Mandela Bay, there’s no better way to spend a Saturday than joining the Penguin Waddle! On October 12, 2024, team members from the Global Humane Conservation Fund of Africa (GH-CFA) and friends took to the annual Penguin Waddle hosted by our conservation partners at SANCCOB, the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds.

This beloved event is more than a lively morning stroll; it’s an essential fundraiser that supports Africa’s only penguin species—the African penguin. Known for their “tuxedoed” charm along the coasts of South Africa and Namibia, African penguins play a vital role in both ecotourism and regional biodiversity. But their future is on the line. On October 28, 2024, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) reclassified African penguins from Endangered to Critically Endangered. This alarming update underscores the penguin’s urgent risk of extinction, with populations declining due to overfishing, noise pollution, habitat disturbance from ship-to-ship bunkering, seismic surveys, and threats from oil spills.

Why is this species so important? African penguins are what conservationists call an “indicator species,” meaning their health reflects the overall state of the marine ecosystem. When these penguins struggle to survive, it signals deeper environmental stress impacting countless marine species. Therefore, protecting them safeguards the wellbeing of the entire South African marine environment.

In support of these efforts, GH-CFA has partnered with SANCCOB to expand and enhance their rescue and rehabilitation facilities. With a grant from GH-CFA, SANCCOB has initiated an expansion of the chick-rearing unit in Cape Town and supported vital upgrades to the Nelson Mandela Bay rescue center, improving care for orphaned and injured penguins.

This year’s Penguin Waddle was not only an incredible bonding experience for our team, but it also celebrated a special milestone: GH-CFA adopted two penguins currently in SANCCOB’s care. These adopted penguins were named “Robin” after our inspiring President and CEO, Dr. Robin Ganzert and “Laura,” after our General Counsel, Laura Tridico, who is exceptionally dedicated to our conservation efforts in Africa.

By participating in events like the Penguin Waddle, you, too, can take steps to protect African penguins and the fragile ecosystems they inhabit. Let’s waddle together and help secure a future for these remarkable seabirds!

To find out more about our Penguin Conservation project: click here!