The first 50 visitors to the fourth annual Penguin Palooza on Saturday, December 7 at the Stony Point Nature Reserve in Betty’s Bay, will be given free entry to the reserve.

The event aims to raise awareness of the endangered African penguin and the collaborative conservation work at the Stony Point penguin colony.

The colony is one of two mainland breeding colonies in South Africa and has shown an increase in the number of the birds in the last decade.

The Penguin Palooza is jointly hosted by CapeNature and the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB).

It provides a platform for surrounding communities and tourists to witness the release of rehabilitated African penguins back into the sea after treatment at SANCCOB.

“CapeNature and SANCCOB jointly employ a Penguin and Seabird Ranger at Stony Point to monitor the health and welfare of the African penguins and seabirds at the Western Cape’s most populated African penguin colony,” said Dr Razeena Omar, CEO of CapeNature.

The event will open at 10h00 and attendees can observe hand-reared African penguins heading out into the open sea. Other activities include exhibition stands by conservation partners, a community market and educational activities.

SANCCOB and CapeNature staff will also share insights into their work at the colony.