• After a feed, penguins go and have some exercise and a drink in the pool.
  • Rockhopper penguins have black-grey upper parts and a straight, bright yellow eyebrow ending in long yellowish plumes projecting sideways behind a red eye. Their beaks are usually orange/red in colour.
  • It is very interesting to watch how Rockhopper penguins interact with each other. They have plenty of non verbal methods that are simple enough to notice. They include shaking their head, moving their flippers, bowing, and preening.
  • Releasing rehabiitated penguins is always a special occasion!
  • So, what are we doing today?
  • Volunteers keep track of the number of fish eaten by each penguin daily.
  • Of the 1.5 million population of African penguins estimated in 1910, only some 10% remained at the end of the 20th century. African penguin populations, which breed in Namibia and South Africa, have declined by 95% since preindustrial times.
  • The home pen is for sea birds that are unable to be released back into the wild due to injuries or long term illness.
  • An lovely mural in the education classroom.
  • All volunteers are taught how to feed sardines to the penguins.
  • Gannets are amazing seabirds that dive into schools of sardines from on high.
  • One of SANCCOBs resident Cape Cormorants.
  • One of our wonderful volunteers getting the fish ready for feeding time.
  • African penguins start breeding at approximately 4 years old, and normally lay 2 eggs in a nest that is burrowed in guano or sand. Incubation period is about 38-42 days, with the mum and dad sharing the incubation duties.
  • Penguins are strong enough to survive a few days once oiled, but if they don't get cleaned (which they can't do themselves), they will die.
  • SANCCOB's retirement village!
  • Table Mountain as seen from SANCCOB.
  • Daniel from Germany, celebrating his birthday with a special Via Volunteers cake.
  • This penguins name is Columbine. Here she was making her appearance on the Expresso Morning TV show. Sadly she has since passed away.
  • Commercial fisheries have forced these penguins to search for prey farther off shore, as well as making them eat less nutritious prey, since their preferred prey has become scarce. Global climate change is also affecting these penguins' prey.
  • The average life span of an African penguin is 10 years. They start breeding at aprox. 4 years old, and normally lay 2 eggs in a nest that is burrowed in guano or sand. The incubation period is about 38-42 days.
  • The Rockhopper Penguin isn’t picky when it comes to what it will eat. The main diet consists of krill, small fish, and squid.
  • A juvenile penguin with characteristic grey feathers.
  • African Penguins can swim up to 20 km per hour when hunting. Their average swimming speed is 7km/h.
  • Penguins eat mainly fish (anchovies, pilchards, sardines, mackerel and herrings) but they also eat squid and shellfish.
  • African Penguins dive on average to 30m. They hold their breath on a dive for an average of 2.5 minutes.
  • Rockhopper Penguins are named after the way they hop from rock to rock when moving around their colonies. They reach heights up to 55 cms (21 inches) and they weigh between 2 and 3 kgs (4.5-6.5 lbs).
  • At certain times of the year, it is not unusual to see a large influx of baby penguins that need assistance.
  • African Penguins can swim up to 20 km per hour when hunting, but their average swimming speed is 7km/h.
  • Daniel and Sabrina in Home Pen
  • The African Penguin, also known as the Jackass Penguin and Black-footed Penguin is a species of penguin, confined to southern African waters.
  • The penguins eat sardines every day which are part of their natural diet in the wild.
  • The African Penguin is an endangered species - can you help?
  • The average life span of the African penguin is 10 years.
  • A stuffed albatross in the education classroom.
  • Some of the nesting boxes for the permanent residents in the home pen.
  • Contrary to the popular image of penguins as ice-dwellers, jackass penguins live in the temperate climate of southwestern Africa. Their name comes from their loud, braying cry, similar to a donkey's.
  • Oilskins and protective footwear are provided while you are volunteering.
  • SANCCOB's ambassador bird, Rocky the Rock Hopper Penguin.
  • In their natural habitat, African Penguins can dive on average to 30m, but as deep as 130m. They hold their breath on a dive for an average of 2.5 minutes.
  • No bird is too small.
  • A penguin chick with its fluffy soft feathers.
  • The African penguin is one of the species to which the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) applies. The African penguin is listed in the Red Data Book as an endangered species.
  • Their common name (rock hopper penguin) refers to the fact that, unlike many other penguins which get around obstacles by sliding on their bellies or by awkward climbing using their flipper-like wings as aid, rockhoppers will try to jump over boulder
  • After the penguins have a swim, it's time for them to be herded out and have a rest in the shade.
  • Penguins grooming each other in Home Pen at SANCCOB
  • Mats are cleaned once a day, every day!
  • Washing oiled seabirds is a skilled job that must be done with care to minimise stress.
  • The hub of SANCCOB - this is where volunteers prepare the fish for feeding to the penguins and lots of other stuff!
  • Preparing sardines for the next feed.
  • African penguins exercising in the main pool.
  • African penguins swimming around the home pen.
  • Up close and personal with an African Penguin.
  • Penguin chicks in ICU.
  • SANCCOB is at the forefront of saving African penguins and other threatened seabirds. It never takes a day off and its rehabilitation team is on 24-hour call.
  • Releasing a rehabilitated penguin at sea, close to Robben Island.
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