Adopt a Home Pen Penguin For R1000

Meet String.
Sadly, a head injury left her a few fries short of a happy meal.
She is loveable, but wants her space. She is bossy, but wants a
mate who will take control. She likes being with friends, unless she doesn't.
She likes you, unless she decides not to.
She answers to her name, but only if you're her favourite keeper.
String is a total mystery, and it's that magnificent?

Cuddles was found at Boulder's Beach, an abandoned chick. He was emaciated, with his left eye missing and a deformed beak. He was brought to our centre to be treated but was not able to be released again because of his missing eye. Sight is very important for penguins to be able to catch their prey and avoid predators. Now, Cuddles resides in our luxurious Home Pen, a grand place to be!

Kia is originally from the land-based Stony Point colony in Betty’s Bay. Kia was admitted to SANCCOB as a chick after her parents abandoned her during their annual moult. She is still at SANCCOB because she has imprinted on her caretakers, even after special care was taken to avoid this. Kia is very content with living in the Home Pen.

Funny Flippers arrived from Dyer Island in 2010 as a chick. He was emaciated but made a full recovery. Unfortunately, he became too fond of his human caretakers, despite the utmost care taken to minimise interaction, and he would struggle to survive in the wild. Funny Flippers now lives in our Home Pen with his partner, Peta.

Rocky is a Northern Rockhopper penguin found in Struisbaai.

These birds live in the sub-Antarctic on Marion and Gough Islands. Rocky was either caught in the Benguela current or brought to our shores by a ship. She cannot be released because she could carry diseases endemic to South African seabirds back to her colony.

Flipper was rescued from Dyer Island, Gansbaai in 2003. He was very weak, emaciated and had a large wound under his flipper, most likely from a seal bite.

His flipper never fully recovered and he can't swim fast enough to evade danger or catch fish in the wild. Flipper now lives permanently at SANCCOB and has happily partnered with Jaeger.

Steve arrived from Simon’s Town in 2015 as a juvenile. She was weak and had a chest infection, but made a full recovery. Unfortunately her loving nature made her imprint on her human caretakers, despite the utmost care taken to minimise interaction, and she would struggle to survive in the wild. Steve is now a SANCCOB ambassador for our environmental education programmes.

Nona was found in Hout Bay with breathing difficulties at the end of 2015. While recovering at the centre, she unfortunately became imprinted on her human caretakers despite the utmost care taken to minimise interaction.

Penguins that have become too acclimatised to humans struggle to adapt in the wild and hunt for their own food. Nona is now a proud ambassador penguin who specialises in old age home visits due to her gentle nature.

Norbert was found as a chick, nesting in an unsafe area outside the Boulders Beach colony.

The vet noticed that he had an oedema in his eye that could not be treated, and he would struggle to survive in the wild. As a result, he lives permanently at SANCCOB.

Norbert has a unique double black band on his chest, which makes him quite distinctive. Since moulting in December 2016, he has paired with Stubby.

Batmann was admitted to our Cape St Francis centre in 2013 after being severely oiled. Apart from being in desperate need of intensive rehabilitation, we soon realised that Batmann is also blind.

Owing to his disability he will never be able to fend for himself in the wild and is safer in our permanent care. He is quite happy with his partner, Penelope, in SANCCOB’s 5 star hotel.

Oliver was rescued in the summer of 2010 with a bite wound to his oesophagus, which required specialised veterinary care and rehabilitation.

While he has recovered, if released back into the wild he would have difficulty catching fish, owing to his injury, and he would also be vulnerable to predation. At SANCCOB, Oliver has partnered with Gigi and they have a happy life together.

Miena was found at Flat Rocks beach in Summerstrand, Gqeberha in September 2015. He was admitted with an injured flipper and weighed a meagre 1.26kg.

Being underweight is the cause of Miena's inability to swim well and fast to catch fish as other penguins do. He is strong and healthy, but still not a good enough swimmer so the centre has become his home – fish is on the house and swimming is just for fun.

Beebee was recused in Cape St. Francis just ahead of the summer season on November 3rd 2013. She was frail and it was later found that she was blind in both eyes. After being admitted into SANCCOB’s care, she regained her strength – but because she has no sight she could not be released back into the wild as she would not be able to fend for herself. Thankfully, she’s a completely happy lady spending her days with the love of her life, Simon.

Bandage was rescued in Cape St. Francis and admitted to undergo rehabilitation on the 28th of August 2013. This was after she was found with a bite wound to her shoulder. While she is now clinically healthy, Bandage will not be able to survive out in the wild due to her injury. She has made plenty of friends in SANCCOB Gqeberha’s Home Pen and spends most of her days out in the sunshine with her long-time love, Davey.

Bridges was rescued in Cape St. Francis on the 8th of April 2013. It was found that he had a heart murmur and a skew beak. Due to his diagnosis, SANCCOB rehabbers knew that he would not survive out in the wild but stood a better chance at living his best life in our care. And! He indeed is, after finding his sweetheart and life partner, named Patience, who is also a permanent resident.

Elvis was rescued in Cape St. Francis on the 16th of June 2009. He was admitted with no left eye and unfortunately could not be released back into the wild due to his injury. Elvis is however SANCCOB Gqeberha’s own little rockstar and enjoys his time in the sun with his lady, Gretha.

Quick came to SANCCOB in 2005 from Mossel Bay in the Western Cape after sustaining a shark bite while it was also found that she had a skew beak. Penguins with beak problems struggle to catch fish in the wild, so Quick had to be admitted as a permanent resident in the wonderful SANCCOB Home Pen Hotel. She found the perfect life partner, Luna, who she spends most of her time with.

Sakkie was rescued in Jeffreys Bay and admitted to SANCCOB on the 8th of April 2013. It was then discovered that she had a hole in her osophagus. Owning to her diagnosis, Sakkie will not be able to hunt for fish and thus will not survive out in the wild. She however loves living her life lavishly in SANCCOB Gqeberha’s care and has been dubbed miss independent amidst all the other permanent residents.

Wormy joined SANCCOB’s Home pen on the 29th of September 2009 after sustaining a wound over the preen gland. This gland secretes an oil that helps with the waterproofing of penguins. Sadly, due to his wound, the green never fully healed and Wormy would therefore not be able to survive out in the wild due to not being fully waterproof. He is being taken care of very well though and has little to no worries with his lady, Sieco, by his side.