I went to Cape Town, the home of the African penguin! ~Part 1~

In March 2026, four staff members from Kyoto Aquarium conducted a site visit to Cape Town, South Africa.

I will report on those five days in two parts.

Why Cape Town?

Kyoto Aquarium has been exhibiting African penguin since its opening and currently houses 51 of them. African penguin are relatively common in aquariums and zoos throughout Japan, but in 2024 they were classified as one of the species at extremely high risk of extinction on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. This visit was realized with the desire to see the African penguin we keep in captivity in their natural habitat with our own eyes and to inform many people about the situation they face.

Arrived in Cape Town!

Cape Town, located in the Southern Hemisphere, experiences the opposite seasons to Japan, and my visit was at the end of summer.

Upon arriving at the airport, you'll be surprised by the intensity of the sunlight, something you rarely experience in Japan.

After arriving in Cape Town, our first stop was the local aquarium, Two Oceans Aquarium. We also visited it on the fifth day, so I'll describe it in more detail in the second part of this report.

SANCCOB, a seabird conservation group

On the second day, we visited the facilities of "SANCCOB," an organization that focuses on the conservation of seabirds, primarily penguins.

SANCCOB protects injured birds and abandoned eggs, releasing approximately 900 birds back into the wild each year. The reasons for protection vary, including shark bites, contamination from tanker oil spills, and abandonment by their parents.

After receiving necessary treatment, the rescued individuals practice swimming in a rehabilitation pool. They must meet strict criteria to ensure they can survive on their own once returned to the wild, and only those that meet these criteria are released back into the sea.

When I visited, it was the season when the chicks were growing. This year, they had protected about 200 eggs, more than usual, and were extremely busy taking care of the chicks. The care of the chicks, including feeding them, is handled by volunteers. SANCCOB accepts about 100 volunteers each year.

After the facility tour, we also exchanged opinions with the staff of SANCCOB.

The exchange of ideas between the aquarium and the conservation group, each facing different environments and challenges, was a valuable learning experience for both sides.

African penguin Habitat ① Boulders Beach

On the third day, we headed to their natural habitat. I was so excited to finally see wild African penguin! Boulders Beach is part of a national park, and we paid an entrance fee to enter.

Walking paths have been installed in areas where humans are allowed to walk, and the area is maintained to prevent people from entering the penguin habitat.

After walking along the trail for a few minutes, we finally spotted some wild penguins.

On the day I visited, it was extremely hot, with record-breaking temperatures being recorded in many places. Despite the temperatures approaching 40 degrees Celsius, I was struck by the resilience of the wild as I watched the penguins desperately trying to dissipate heat while protecting their nests.

We also saw penguins preening their feathers in the sea. A pleasant breeze blew through the ocean side, making it feel a little cooler.

African penguin Habitat ② Stony Point

The next day, we visited a different natural habitat. Unlike Boulders Beach the day before, there was no barrier separating the areas where humans and penguins were, and we were surprised to observe the penguins walking around very close by.

Stony Point isn't a sandy beach, but rather an area with rocks and grassy areas. Compared to Boulders Beach, it has more shade and a cooler breeze, and the penguins seemed to be enjoying themselves more.

Numerous artificial burrows had been set up in the grassy area, and we even saw penguins raising their young there.

Participating in the release of rescued penguins

At Stony Point, I also had the opportunity to participate in the release of rescued penguins.

SANCCOB releases individuals back into the sea once they have completed treatment and rehabilitation and are deemed ready to return to the wild.

This time, seven penguins were transported from SANCCOB in cardboard boxes to be released back into the wild. Two animal care staff will now assist with the release.

First, the box is carefully carried to the beach where the penguins will be released. Then, on the count of "1, 2, 3," the cardboard box is returned, and the penguins sprint towards the sea.

The sight of them peeking through the gaps in the cardboard box and heading straight for the sea without even glancing at us made me truly feel the power of the wild.

This concludes the first part. The story continues in the second part .