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SIMONSTOWN PENGUIN FESTIVAL SANCCOB BENEFIT WEEKEND 25 – 27 September 2009
ANNOUNCING AFRICAN PENGUIN DAY
Once again the annual Simons Town Penguin Festival is on the horizon so waddle your way down to Boulders Beach and help to preserve some of the most precious little tux-wearing tykes on the planet! ALL proceeds raised over the weekend go to support SANCCOB (Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds www.sanccob.co.za). This year, for the first time, penguin-lovers will celebrate African Penguin Day (26 September), a SANCCOB international initiative, to raise awareness of this much loved and ‘vulnerable to extinction’ species. One of the highlights of this year’s festival will be a beach release of penguins rehabilitated at SANCCOB at 10am Saturday 26 September.
From 25 – 27 September Simons Town folk and penguin-lovers unite to raise funds and awareness of the African penguin, whose numbers are dwindling at an alarming rate. All efforts are being made to save these charismatic creatures, as their status becomes increasingly critical. Officially listed as ‘vulnerable to extinction’ an annual census shows that we loose 10 000 of these birds every year. At the turn of the 20th century there were 4 million – in 2008 a mere 26 000 breeding pairs remain.
The festivities, for adults and children alike, will be centered around Boulders Beach and the parking area outside the Boulders Beach Lodge and Restaurant. The 2009 programme offers festival-goers a chance to get out there and do something good while at the same time have some fun.
An added bonus is that every year on this very weekend the whales turn up in the bay, as if to say “we’re watching you’. African Penguin Day penguin release: The festival opens to the public at 10am on Saturday 26 May with a group of rehabilitated African penguins from SANCCOB being released back into the wild. If you’ve never witnessed a penguin release, this is something not to be missed. Emotions run high as the penguins make their way down to the sea and head out into the ocean. Fun for the kids: Monique Ruthenberg and her colleagues at SANParks will yet again make sure that there are plenty of activities and snacks at hand for hungry children (and adults). The fun-filled programme, with an environmental message at its heart, will include: A colouring-in competition; pop-a-balloon; Percy penguin – based on pin the tail on the donkey - put the fish in the penguin's mouth; treasure hunt; face painting; hair colouring; ball games and much much more…. Photographic competition: For more information about the photographic competition contact Monique Ruthenberg at SANParks for details (021 786 2329) Know your Environment David Parry-Davies will head up the marquee dedicated to the environment and always promises to be a hit. David, author of the Enviropaedia, will be on hand throughout the weekend. Snake and rapture show times will be released closer to September.
International flavor Amelia Kinkade, renowned author and animal communicator, will be flying in from Los Angeles to host one of her world famous workshops over the weekend. Amelia will be one of the guest speakers at the SANCCOB Benefit Evening, to be hosted on 25th September. This invitation only evening is the opening act to the rest of the weekend and is always well attended. Please visit her website www.ameliakinkade.com for details. The SA navy cleans up! Simons Town Navy is getting into action to clean up the beaches in the area, with the help of a bevy of gorgeous Miss Earth South Africa finalists. If you’d like join in on the fun, and do your bit for the environment at the same time, please contact Janine at Boulders Beach Lodge for details of time and place. (021 7861758) Miss Earth SA supported the benefit evening in 2008. This year they’ll be assisting over the weekend with the educational programmes for the children and will again add a touch of glamour to the Gala Auction Event. Please view their details at www.missearthsa.co.za
Official Media Partner Peoples Post – will carry the official programme and list events SANCCOB Benefit Evening (Fundraising Auction): It’s a glamorous affair with the Who’s Who of Cape Town rubbing shoulders with the Who’s Who of the conservation world, with the likes of Patricia de Lille bidding against Michelle Garforth to see who can raise the most for SANCCOB. Last year the auction raised R60 000, in 2009 the target is set at R100 000. Any business owners who would like to get involved, or would like to donate items should contact Janine Genade at Boulders Beach Lodge & Restaurant on 021 786 1758.
Boulders Beach Lodge & Restaurant, and the Curious Penguin Shop are proud to be a supporter of the Annual Simons Town Penguin Festival and will be hosting the 9th SANCCOB Fundraiser Auction on the evening of 25 September 2009, the evening is called the: SANCCOB Benefit Evening. (Date: 25th of September, starting at 18h00, Venue: Boulders Beach Lodge and Restaurant Function House, Boulders Beach, Simon’s Town, Cape Town) Please note that this event is by invitation only. SANCCOB – Background Information: There were about 1.5 million adult African Penguins along the Southern African coast in the 1930’s. Human activities have reduced this number by a staggering 90% in less than a century. The African Penguin, together with over a dozen other sea bird species found in South Africa, is considered to be threatened and vulnerable to extinction. The Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB) aims to protect and conserve Southern African’s coastal birds, especially threatened species, for the benefit of present and future generations. Recent research by the Avian Demography unit at the University of Cape Town has shown that the African Penguin population is 19% higher today than it would have been in the absence of SANCCOB’s efforts in rehabilitation. SANCCOB has responded to every oil spill along the South African coast since 1968 and has helped to treat more than 85 000 sick, injured, orphaned and oiled sea birds.
» 3 Comments
1Comment
at Friday, 03 July 2009 18:43
Oh KEWL!!! Will have to diarise this date!!
2Comment
at Friday, 03 July 2009 20:02
you must go take pix for us Charlie :-D
3Comment
at Sunday, 05 July 2009 19:41
oh yeah - most definately!!!!
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