Hertfordshire Zoo is thrilled to announce an impactful conservation partnership with the South African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB), a non-profit organisation based in Cape Town, South Africa, renowned for its efforts to rescue, rehabilitate, and protect endangered seabirds. In light of the alarming news from Monday 28th October, that African penguins have recently been reclassified as “Critically Endangered” by the IUCN, this long-standing partnership is taking big steps forward to help prevent the extinction of one of the world’s most iconic seabirds.
The partnership between Hertfordshire Zoo and SANCCOB was cemented with a recent visit by Hertfordshire Zoo team members Tyler and Cam Whitnall, who are also presenters on CBBC’s children’s wildlife series, One Zoo Three. The brothers travelled to SANCCOB’s Cape Town facility to learn first hand about their life-saving work, meet the African penguins under SANCCOB’s care, and even witness a remarkable event—the release of seven rehabilitated penguins back into the wild at Stony Point, Betty’s Bay. This release marks a crucial step in the effort to rebuild the penguin colony along South Africa’s coastline.
Earlier this year, Hertfordshire Zoo supported SANCCOB’s mission by donating £6,000, which contributed to the rescue and rehabilitation of six orphaned African penguin chicks. This funding helps SANCCOB provide vital medical care and prepare the chicks for eventual release into their natural habitat, where they play an essential role in their ecosystem.
“Seeing the African penguins return to the wild was deeply moving,” said Cam Whitnall. “This species could disappear in the next 11 years if we don’t act now, and we’re proud to support SANCCOB’s crucial work in giving these incredible birds a fighting chance.”
The African penguin, once a flourishing species along Africa’s southern coast, faces a range of escalating threats, including overfishing, oil spills, habitat loss, and climate change. SANCCOB, along with other conservation bodies like Bird Life South Africa and Biodiversity Law, is championing legal action to establish protected no-fishing zones around critical breeding areas. These zones aim to ensure penguins have access to the fish populations they rely on for survival, addressing one of the primary reasons for their recent population collapse.
Through this partnership, Hertfordshire Zoo and SANCCOB aim to raise awareness of the penguins’ plight and encourage public involvement. A petition launched by SANCCOB calls on supporters to help expand protected areas to safeguard penguins’ feeding grounds, critical to the species’ recovery.
“We invite our zoo supporters to join us in this mission,” said Tyler Whitnall. “Together, we can ensure that African penguins continue to thrive in the wild for generations to come.”
At Hertfordshire Zoo, we are proud to be home to a group of African penguins as part of an important European Endangered Species Programme (EEP) breeding initiative. Our dedicated team works tirelessly with these incredible birds, providing expert care and educating the public on the species’ plight and conservation needs every day. Recently, we celebrated the arrival of two delightful penguin chicks, named Liam and Noel after the iconic Oasis brothers, who became viral sensations! These fluffy new additions have captured hearts far and wide, helping to highlight the importance of breeding programs in safeguarding the future of this critically endangered species. By welcoming visitors to learn about and connect with these penguins, we hope to inspire a shared commitment to conserving their wild counterparts.
Hertfordshire Zoo is committed to supporting SANCCOB’s work on the ground in South Africa and through future collaborative efforts that inspire global conservation action. You can learn more about SANCCOB’s initiatives, sign the petition, or donate directly to support this essential conservation work by visiting the Hertfordshire Zoo website.
Visitors to Hertfordshire Zoo can now witness the adorable antics of these young penguins as they explore their habitat and interact with their surroundings.
Book your day tickets today to see Liam and Noel!
Did you know you can also adopt our African Penguins? By doing so you can help us here at Hertfordshire Zoo in our conservation efforts.
