Benny, the African Penguin, was released to the sea over the weekend.
Benny was transferred from the South African Association for Marine Biological Research (SAAMBR) to the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal birds (SANCCOB) in Gqeberha, earlier in June.
He was found stranded on the lower South Coast and was nurtured back to health at SAAMBR.
Kelly de Klerk, Assistant Curator for Mammals and Birds, at SAAMBR, said Benny did not enter the ocean alone but in a mixed group of adults and juveniles who had also needed to spend time in human care.
“Rehabilitated African penguins are released in these mixed groups to ensure the inexperienced juveniles are taught social cueing, confidence and how to navigate the transition from human care to life in the ocean with relative ease.”
de Klerk also said “it has been said that it takes a village to raise a child, and more recently to rescue and rehabilitate critically endangered African penguins. This was certainly true in Benny’s case and we and truly grateful to everyone who played a role in her journey back to the ocean.”
Picture: Supplied