Injured penguin rescued near Warner Beach
It is assumed the juvenile penguin must have followed the sardine run from Port Elizabeth and ended up in Warner Beach after sustaining a shark bite.
AN injured penguin was rescued from the surf between Warner Beach and Winklespruit yesterday afternoon (July 24).
Colin Sydney spotted the animal during his daily walk after initially mistaking it for a bird among the seagulls. “It was injured, so I wrapped it in a towel and brought it to the Baggies Kiosk while we waited for uShaka to arrive,” he said, adding that the discovery came as a shock because it’s not a common sight.
Also read: What to do if you find a stranded seal
Ann Kunz of the South African Association for Marine Biological Research (Saambr) said this is the third juvenile African penguin brought to uShaka Sea World this month. “It’s a far way from home, and must have followed the sardine run from the Port Elizabeth area,” she said.
The penguin, now affectionately named Cher, is in a critical but stabilised condition and is receiving medical care. “It appears to have injuries from a shark bite, which we suspect happened a day before it was found. We are hopeful Cher will make a full recovery,” she said.
To report stranded sea animals, call uShaka Sea World on 031 328 8222 or 031 328 8060.
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