October 12 saw Scouts, Cubs, Meerkats and supporters of African penguins gathered at the East London Aquarium for the “African Penguin Awareness Day” penguin waddle, part of the “Not on Our Watch” campaign.
This initiative highlights the urgent need to protect African penguins, whose population has plummeted from more than 1.5-million to less than 10,000 breeding pairs in just a century.
While many organisations work tirelessly to ensure the species’ survival, public support is essential for securing the policies and protections needed to prevent their extinction.
More than 100 Scouts, Cubs, Meerkats and their family and friends from East London Scout groups — including First Vincent, First Cambridge, and Second Gonubie — participated in the waddle. The group walked from the East London Aquarium to the stoep at Leighandre “Baby Lee” Jegels Recreational Park and back, holding signs and chanting “Save the Penguins”, to raise awareness for the cause.
To celebrate the day, the East London Aquarium offered free entry to all visitors. Waddle participants had the opportunity to explore the aquarium and see real penguins.
Each Scout, Cub and Meerkat received a hand-painted stone penguin crafted by their leaders.
Several participating Scout groups adopted penguins at the aquarium. The First Cambridge Meerkats adopted Ina, the First Vincent Cubs adopted Ocean, and the First Vincent Scouts adopted Oswald, reinforcing their commitment to the conservation of the birds.
The event was organised by Friends of the East London Aquarium (FELA), with significant contributions from the Scouters who helped make the day a success. A big thank you goes to First Vincent, First Cambridge, and Second Gonubie for their participation.
First Cambridge Meerkats assistant den Scouter Melanie Bright said: “As Scouts, we take pride in supporting our communities and advocating for important causes. Through events like these, we aim to inspire young people to become champions for conservation, ensuring a brighter future for African penguins and the environment. Together, we can make a difference.”
