uMhlanga conservationist celebrates African Penguins

UMHLANGA resident Kelly de Klerk celebrated International African Penguin Awareness Day with several members of staff from uShaka Sea World and members as they waddled on the Durban promenade to raise awareness for the aquatic bird.

They were also joined in marking the day by members of the Durban Undersea Club (DUC) who completed a 24-hour relay dive for the African Penguin last week.

The day is observed on the second Saturday of October every year and is a way for the general public to learn more about the species.

Also Read: Saambr celebrates 71 years of conservation

De Klerk, who is the principal caregiver for penguins and uShaka Sea World’s animal behaviourist, said the day was also about celebrating the species but also highlighting the plight of the penguin population, which is on a steady decline due to a myriad of factors, including overfishing, climate change and pollution.

“These charismatic birds are incredible animals, and of the 18 species of penguins around the world, they are the only ones endemic to the Southern African coastline. At uShaka Sea World, we have a colony of 56 birds. I have the privilege of looking after them, and many of them are penguins rescued and in need of help. In 2010, the African Penguin was moved from vulnerable to an endangered species on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) list of threatened species.

“Our goal with the 24-hour waddle and dive was to raise awareness of their plight and also celebrate them. People often ask why they are so important, and the answer is they are an indicator species. If something happens to them and they go extinct in the wild, that has a knock-on effect. For our climate and our oceans, it is so important we keep their numbers going up and do everything we can to protect them so they can continue being a part of the ecosystem,” she said.