African penguin crashes helicopter?

As of today, May 16, 2025, 55 websites carried stories with headlines such as: Penguin blamed for helicopter crash in revenge for Trump tariffs…?! How a penguin in a box caused a helicopter to crash in South Africa Helicopter crash in South Africa blamed on ‘unsecured’ penguin Penguin in passenger seat sent helicopter crashing into … Read more

Experts say African penguins worth billions

What if we reframe conservation as an economic benefit, rather than an obstacle? If the African penguin were to become extinct in the wild, South Africa’s brand reputation as an environmentally healthy destination, famed for its natural assets, would suffer according to a study commissioned by The Endangered Wildlife Trust and the Department of Forestry, … Read more

11 Quotes for Environmentalists

Shannon and Kruger plant trees to offset carbon emissions of flying to South Africa.

Sometimes other people have already said what we want to say. Here are some quotes for environmentalists, conservationists, nature advocates, and anyone who cares about our planet. It is horrifying that we have to fight our own government to save the environment. ― Ansel Adams Our planet’s alarm is going off, and it is time to wake … Read more

Pope Francis’s Laudato Si’, Laudate Deum, and the Fate of African Penguins: A Moral Call We Can’t Ignore

We don’t need to be Catholics to grieve the loss of His Holiness Pope Francis. As the first pontiff in history to take a public stance on combating climate change, he was a strong advocate for climate action and a friend to climate activists. Photo by Jeffrey Bruno/Creative Commons Laudato Si’ In Laudato Si’, Pope … Read more

Once abundant. Now absent. Silence reigns.

Here is a list of wildlife you may not have heard of. A Common Thread What ties these extinctions together? Human activities, including habitat destruction, hunting, pollution, and climate change, have significantly contributed to the acceleration of extinctions. Many species today face similar threats, including the critically endangered African penguin. Won’t you help us keep … Read more

South Africa Takes Bold Action to Save the African Penguin—But Will It Be Enough?

The South African Constitution requires the government to protect endangered species from extinction. In theory, that’s a forward-thinking attitude. In practice, it is not easy to hold the government accountable. After years of deadlock between conservationists and commercial fisheries, South Africa has finally taken a decisive step to protect its critically endangered African penguins. An … Read more

A Tale of Two Seabird Rangers

Boulders Beach—Managing Tourists and African Penguins A common question at Boulders Beach African penguin colony has nothing to do with penguins. “My hat blew off. Can you please get it for me?” The answer is always “No.” Seabird rangers at Boulders Beach won’t risk disturbing the African penguins to retrieve a hat. We spent the … Read more

Why Intervene?

You may wonder why our partners step in to raise chicks instead of leaving them in their natural habitat. It’s not because African penguins are bad parents; in fact, they are remarkable caregivers, especially given the challenges they face. However, their breeding season coincides with another critical stage—molting. During molting, penguin parents must stay ashore … Read more

A Joyful African Penguin Release

A highlight of our March 2025 South Africa trip was releasing rehabilitated African penguins back into the wild. The Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB) invited us to help. We live for moments like this! Please enjoy the video.

Our First 990-EZ Form is Filed

You always remember your first time. I’ve never been so happy to complete a tax form. We just filed our first 990-EZ for KruShan Foundation. We’ve graduated from filing the postcard 990 thanks to generous, caring donors. You’ll find it, our financial reports, and our 2024 annual report here. P.S. I once worked with some … Read more