‘Groot’ joy after penguin rescue from KZN beach
Groot, the African penguin was found stranded on Scottburgh main beach towards the end of December and has been on the road to recovery since then.
UMHLANGA resident and uShaka Sea World’s Kelly de Klerk believes an eight-month-old African penguin, named Groot is well on his way to recovery and release after a few weeks in rehabilitation.
De Klerk who is the principal care giver for penguins and uShaka Sea World’s animal behaviourist, said Groot was found stranded on Scottburgh main beach towards the end of December.
“He was the third juvenile African penguin to end up on our shores in recent weeks. African penguins are endemic to South Africa’s coastline ranging from Cape Town all the way to Port Elizabeth. So Groot was really far away from home when he was rescued. A concerned member of the public contacted us when they spotted him on the beach. When we got to him we noticed he was severely dehydrated with an obvious injury to his left flipper. He also had a slight limp from an ankle injury and it was in the process of moulting,” she explained.
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According to De Klerk, moulting penguins ought to stay on dry land and not swim until their three-week moult is complete.
At the end of January Groot will join four other penguins currently in Rehab at uShaka Sea World and fly to Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB) in Port Elizabeth where he will join a bigger group of penguins preparing for release.
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