Jan
30
2010
Cape Town Penguins
Author: SamWith its proximity to beaches as well as other spectacular natural spots, with gorgeous possibilities for gold, snorkling, or just exploring the great unknown, Cape Town has it going on. It’s been a major center for world culture and industry for some time, and recent years have seen a rise in its popularity as a tourist destination. Those who have known about the splendors of the place have probably been wondering why it’s taken the rest of the world so long to catch on, but the word is definitely out. It has everything, including great hotels: check these out.
There is a fantastic night life, of course, and just about everything else big cities have to offer. But there’s definitely something that’s hard to find in New York. Penguins. Cape Town has one of the most active conservation movements in the world, and it’s certainly taken the penguin cause under its wing (pun perhaps intended). The Penguin Conservation Centre rehabilitates penguins who have been victim to oil spills, among other things, and has taken care of thousands and thousands of these fascinating birds since it opened in 1968. Sanccob is another center that rehabilitates penguins, with similar success rates, and a similar history. The focus is not strictly on penguins, but all of South Africa’s seabirds, which include penguins, along with Gulls, Gannets, Cormorants, and Oystercatchers.
The focus is not entirely on oil spills, of course. They work with injured or otherwise endangered birds as well. The focus is on conservation and preservation, so that the lives of South Africa’s penguins can be saved and protected, and so that future generations can understand the delicate balance where we live. In the global scheme of things, South Africa has been at the forefront of environmental awareness, and the green world owes a lot to the people doing excellent work here.