Image by Steven Turner via Flickr

If you’ve ever watched a documentary on penguins, no doubt you’ve seen them seemingly fly through the water.

While they are agile surfers at sea, they make real jackasses of themselves on land with their inherent clumsiness!  But that’s not how they got their name. It is because of their donkey-like braying on land that they inherited their unfortunate common name, Jackass Penguin.

Worldwide there are just over 20 sites where you’ll find Jackass Penguins (or African Penguins) and we are fortunate enough to have a colony here in Simon’s Town at Boulder’s beach.

What  is unique about this colony is that it wasn’t always a place of preference for them as they preferred the outlying islands, however, in recent years the colony has grown from a few groups to over 1000 penguins.  They chose to roost on this secluded beach that is popular with many sun bathers during summer.  This is largely due to the Penguin Man, a retired naval officer who has worked to grow awareness among the locals as well as a reduction of natural predators in the area.

As the colony grew, the residents found their growing numbers a bit of a headache as penguins chose to roost in their homes, gardens and even under cars.  Ask any long time resident of Simon’s Town about the penguins and they’ll have a funny or interesting story to tell.

One evening as I was coming home along the main road, three penguins were standing under a bus shelter.  I had a good chuckle at them as it looked like they were waiting for the bus!

The National Parks Board maintains the area surrounding Boulder’s beach and has provided fencing and educational signage.  This has ensured the preservation of our wonderfully clumsy feathered friends.

Camilla Hazell © 2008

things to do

[print_link]