Today was windy and rather hostile, but that did not deter visitors to the Boulders Beach Penguin Colony near Simon's Town. A few years ago there was not a penguin to be seen here, then just over 20 years ago they arrived in force (this is all about the collapse and movement of the sardine shoals on which these penguins have come to depend). They are now having to forage close to shore to survive and this place seemed to suit them. Sanparks have made an interesting visitors centre and walkway that allows paying visitors to walk over and around the African Penguins that go about their daily lives quite unconcerned. It is now one of the top tourist destinations in Cape Town. The African Penguin used to be known as the Jackass Penguin because of its strange braying call.
Read this interesting article on the nearby colony of African Penguins on Robben Island.
And spare a thought for the oiled Northern Rockhopper Penguins of Nightingale Island off Tristan da Cunha. A tragedy caused by human idiocy.
Cape Town Time
Stopping by the penguins is always a highlight for tourists. I read the other day that, like our colony here in Algoa Bay, the number of penguins at Boulders have decreased over the lasy couple of years. Sad...
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