In one of those rare moments where one gets to witness hope in action, a community gathered to bid farewell to 10 African Penguins as they waddled back to the sea, released into their wild home once again. Have a look:
Plettenberg Bay, South Africa (29 April 2025) — Some goodbyes are a lot more sweet than bitter. Such was the case for a community who gathered at Plettenberg Bay’s Lookout Beach on 26 April (just after World Penguin Day) to bid 10 African Penguins a crowd-attracting farewell.
This was no ordinary goodbye. Rather, it was a long-awaited one (and not because the penguins were bad house guests).
These critically Endangered African Penguins had undergone months of rehabilitation and recovery, as photographer Stephan van Wyk shared.
It took a village, as it often does with stories of this nature, to rescue, nurture and ensure the penguins were ready for release. This was heartwarmingly evident in those cheering the penguins on in their goodbye waddle.
The Tenikwa Wildlife Rehabilitation and Awareness Centre put into perspective how many different groups make a happy ending like this possible:
“This penguin release would not have been successful without NVT assisting with the release on the day and for rescuing some of the penguins off the beach. Robberg Veterinary Clinic for assisting us with getting them ready for release and getting the injured and sick penguins the right treatment so we can rehabilitate them.
SANParks for going above and beyond to rescue penguins, usually after hours and getting them to us safely, Birdlife Plettenberg Bay for their fundraising all year round and the commentary on release day, Plett stranding network and CapeNature for rescuing penguins, Ocean Sailing Charters who monitor the weather and swells for us for release day and a few days afterwards to make sure we are releasing them at the right time.
SAPS for assisting us with getting the penguins onto the beach safely with the crowds and parking and for monitoring the crowd in a relaxed manner which gave us peace of mind that we could focus on the penguins, and last but not least, the public who came to the release today, the guests that visit Tenikwa Wildlife Rehabilitation and Awareness Centre and Tenikwa Wellness SPA which enables us to raise the money to save and release these penguins and other indigenous wildlife.”
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