Why Are African Penguins Important?

African penguins are the only penguin species that breed on the African continent. Protecting endangered African penguins is critical not only to the penguins but also to the ecosystem and humans. Their population decline from nearly one million breeding pairs in the early 1900s to just 8,324 pairs in 2023 puts them at risk for … Read more

KruShan Foundation Provides Emergency Funds for Months-Long Rehabilitation of 15 African Penguin Chicks Displaced by Severe Storms in Western Cape, South Africa

The Western Cape experienced severe storms in June and July, with disaster areas declared. The African penguin colonies were hit hard, with African penguin chicks drowning or parents abandoning their offspring. In mid-July, our partner, SANCCOB, rescued over 30 chicks and 25 eggs (a total of 55), with more rescues expected. SANCCOB was fortunate to … Read more

KRUSHAN FOUNDATION: Crucial in assisting, keeping our African Penguins safe!

This article was originally published here–https://dict.org.za/blog/krushan-foundation-crucial-in-assisting-keeping-our-african-penguins-safe/ Kruger and Shannon du Plessis from the KruShan Foundation are two friends of the African Penguin and Seabird Sanctuary. They have assisted with numerous previous donations towards the African Penguin and Seabird Sanctuary, including buying two gas fridges to keep the penguin meals frozen during heavy load-shedding in 2023. … Read more

We’re Growing—Welcome Xolani

We’re ending the year on quite a high! We’re so pleased to announce that Xolani Lawo has agreed to serve as a KruShan Foundation Advisor. Xolani has been working with endangered African penguins for 16 years and is well-known as the “penguin whisperer.” His extensive experience with African penguins and seabirds began in the Eastern … Read more

We’re Growing—Welcome Pinkey

We are so happy to announce that Pinkey Ngewu has joined us as an Advisor.After serving as a nature guide for several years, Pinkey became involved with African penguin rescue and conservation in 2015 when she joined the Dyer Island Conservation Trust, where she serves as manager for conservation, fundraising, and administration, including the African … Read more

Artificial Nests Help African Penguins Beat the Heat

African penguins didn’t have a homelessness problem and were happily laying their eggs in burrows dug into centuries-old layers of their excrement until the 1800s when traders discovered that African penguin guano was an excellent fertilizer and shipped it to the United Kingdom. The guano burrows had provided African penguins with these benefits.  • A … Read more

Hunger Crisis—How KruShan Foundation Ensured over 350 African Penguin Chicks Won’t Starve

One of our partners, the Dyer Island Conservation Trust, cares for approximately 350 African penguin chicks at the African Penguin and Seabird Sanctuary (APSS) between October and January. Dr. Liezl Pretorius, a zoologist and veterinarian at APSS, explains that during this time, African penguin parents endure their annual molt, rendering their feather coat non-waterproof. Consequently, … Read more

African Penguin Parenting Perils

Picture the scene. They were a perfect pair, their appetites partially satiated by feeding on fish. Yet, now their chicks squawk with hunger, and their energy is depleting. African penguins mate for life and are good parents, yet they often face a cruel dilemma. Each October/November marks the end of the African penguin breeding season, … Read more