Big Hearts for Small (and Huge!) Guests: South Coast Rallies to Rescue 2 Rare Marine Visitors

Photo Credit: Carla Cronje-Steenkamp via Ramsgate Community ZA Facebook

When a tiny, exhausted African Penguin and a massive elephant seal named “Snarf” washed ashore far from home, the South Coast communities of Port Edward and Port Shepstone didn’t just stand by; they rallied together with an incredible show of heart to keep these two lost travellers safe.

KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa (19 May 2026) – The KZN South Coast was treated to two very special and rather unexpected visitors this weekend, who were discovered washed up ashore.

Late on Friday afternoon, a caring member of the public alerted the KZN Marine Stranding Network to a young African Penguin that had washed up, exhausted and underweight, at Port Edward, far from its normal home range.

Led by Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife’s Santosh, members of the network from different ocean conservation groups coordinated a rescue mission across the South Coast, with volunteers meeting each other along the route to safely transport the young penguin to the South African Association for Marine Biological Research (SAAMBR) at uShaka Sea World.

Wrapped in a soft towel and little more than “a bag of feathered bones”, the juvenile penguin, affectionately named Benny, arrived dehydrated and thin after likely spending around 10 days at sea without feeding.

Thankfully, SAAMBR veterinarian Dr Caryl Knox found no major injuries, and after fluids, vitamins and a warm night’s rest, Benny surprised everyone by eagerly devouring fish the very next morning!

Just days later, Benny is already swimming, preening and regaining strength, with her weight increasing from 1.51 kg to 1.92 kg. Once she is fully recovered, she will continue rehabilitation at SANCCOB Saves Seabirds, before hopefully returning to the ocean where she belongs.

A slightly bigger chap, an elephant seal, found its way a little further up the Port Shepstone beachfront.

Affectionately nicknamed “Snarf”, local security teams and volunteers came together in an incredible show of community spirit to ensure his safety and well-being.

The Wolf Pack stood guard throughout the night, while massive support was also provided by Mi7 and Laser Security – an admirable showcase of a community’s security readiness to always step up when needed.

Snarf was later safely loaded onto a specialised trailer by the dedicated SAAMBR Seal Team and has now begun his journey to rehabilitation at the facility.

“A heartfelt thank you to every single person involved in protecting and caring for this magnificent visitor. Your teamwork, compassion, and quick action made all the difference,” Carla Cronje-Steenkamp shared on the Ramsgate Community ZA Facebook page.

Photo Credit: Carla Cronje-Steenkamp via Ramsgate Community ZA Facebook

Both these rescues are a reminder that conservation truly takes a village. When most people were winding down for the weekend, a remarkable network of passionate individuals showed up for a little penguin and a big seal.

A massive shout-out to every person who played a role in Benny and Snarf’s rescue and recovery.