Splash – the African Penguin – Dyer Island Conservation Trust

On Sunday, 15 February, a solitary African Penguin was spotted at the Old Harbour in Hermanus. A message was shared on the Overberg Stranding Network group about the penguin sitting quietly at the water’s edge.

Ash Appleby from Southern Right Charters immediately went to assess the situation. He reported no visible injuries, but as he approached, the penguin slipped back into the water. Shortly after Ash left, the penguin returned to the same spot.

Gerhard van der Merwe, a volunteer from the African Penguin and Seabird Sanctuary who lives in Hermanus, arrived just as Ash departed. Once again, the penguin briefly came ashore, only to splash and disappear beneath the water.

On local Hermanus Facebook pages, light-hearted speculation followed. Some joked that “he probably forgot to buy flowers for Valentine’s Day and was kicked out of the nest”, while others offered imaginative explanations for why this lone penguin had chosen the Old Harbour.

But we knew something was amiss.

This is not normal behaviour for an African Penguin. Wilfred Chivell, Founder of the Dyer Island Conservation Trust, immediately pointed out on the stranding network group that penguins can rest safely at sea. For a penguin to repeatedly come ashore, return to the water, and then swim back to the same spot suggested that something was wrong.

a Lonely Splash at the harbour

Xolani Lawu, Senior Bird Rehabilitator, drove from Gansbaai to Hermanus on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. Each time he approached, the little penguin — now aptly named Splash — would head into the water, only to reappear at the same harbour location an hour or two later.

But Xolani did not give up.

By Tuesday evening, he finally managed to catch Splash!

“He is beautiful, with bright new white and black feathers, so he has probably just finished moult. Visibly, though, he is very tired and stressed.”

The Old Harbour is a busy area, with daily activity from visitors, dog walkers, swimmers, divers and boats using the slipway. It is not a safe or peaceful place for a penguin to recover.

With proper rest, nutritious food, and the peace of the sanctuary, Splash will regain his strength before being released back to Dyer Island.

Well done to Xolani, who never gave up, knowing that every bird counts.