BOOM! PENGUINS! THAT'S WHAT?
Because come on, who doesn't wanna start their week of with a penguin? PenguinS even?
This post is to showcase another fabulous part of this trip and that is our partnership with the Newport Aquarium. During our time in South Africa we'll be focusing on the native penguin population and how our actions at home can aid in their conservation. These flightless guys are an important section of that conservation doc that sounded so cool in my last post.
In order to get a better idea of penguin behavior as well as contact organizations in South Africa that directly aid the native penguin population we got in contact with Rick and Alle at the Newport aquarium who have served as our penguin spirit guides. They themselves partner with SAMREC (South Africa Marine Rehabilitation and Education Centre) as well as SANCCOB (Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds) to study South African penguins as well as things that directly disturb their habitat or food sources. These are some of the organizations we'll be interacting with while we make the conservation doc.
And as a perk, Alle and Rick let us hang out with the penguins at the aquarium for free. How great is that? Alle is pictured below lookin' cute. Rick will be in a group shot later making a funny face in the background.
We learned a lot about these birds today and also got some great footage of them waddling around in their habitat at the aquarium. Rick and Alle have been amazing, telling us all we need to know about these adorable birds. They themselves went to South Africa a few years back through SANCCOB to study the guano of the birds as well as the effects of over-fishing on their habitats. They introduced us to the penguins: Randi, Paula, Simon, Blueberry, Speckles, and Green Bean to name a few and they told us all about how the penguins are incredible ambassadors for the aquarium. They visit schools, go on television, and they even do some painting. You can buy their creations at in the gift shop and the proceeds go right back into their conservation and raising awareness of the help these penguins need. It's impossible not to want to help them, the way they playfully scuttled around, hopping over our gear and trying to make friends with us. Even the ones that were a little angry because it's molting season. Green Bean pecked me in the leg for instance and I STILL love these birds (Pretty hard too. I better wear thick pants on penguin day).
We can't wait to get to South Africa and see some of these birds in the wild. But until now, selfies with penguins is a pretty good compromise.
So close to departure on the 16th!
Annnnnd...we found Rick!
Next stop the airport!
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