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Animal Caretaker Kelly to SANCCOB
Thanks to the support of visitors and adoptive parents, Beekse Bergen has been donating to SANCCOB via Stichting Wildlife since 2017. In this way, we contribute to the conservation and protection of African penguins in the wild.
Kelly has been working at Beekse Bergen since 2022 as a keeper for all bird species in the Safaripark, including the African penguins. You may well have spotted her at the birds of prey safari! In December 2025, Kelly was given the opportunity to spend two weeks working at SANCCOB. On this page, you can read more about her time in South Africa and the experience she gained there in caring for wild African penguins.
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Why did you choose to work at SANCCOB?
Unfortunately, the African penguin is not doing well. Its IUCN status changed from ‘Endangered’ to ‘Critically Endangered’ at the end of 2024. That is why it is particularly important that we build up a healthy reserve population in zoos. I wanted to learn more about the care of African penguins so that we could apply this knowledge at the Safaripark too. It is a vulnerable species. They require very specific care and are highly sensitive to stress. That is why it was so rewarding to see at SANCCOB how wild penguins are cared for. It was also very special that, during my work visit, I was able to present them with a generous donation of €12,000 for 2026!
What tasks did you carry out at SANCCOB?
On my first day, I met the team and started with the tasks that volunteers always begin with: working in the kitchen and doing cleaning duties. Here, I learnt everything about medication, preparing food and cleaning the equipment needed to care for the penguins. It’s very important that volunteers learn this first. This is because we use syringes a lot for penguins that need medication or extra food to regain their strength. It is very important that this is done safely and hygienically.
On the second day, I was already allowed to help look after the penguins themselves. It often takes a bit longer for volunteers to move on from the kitchen, laundry or cleaning area, but as I already had experience looking after penguins, I was allowed to start straight away. A major task is keeping the pool clean. They do not use salt or chlorine for the penguins’ health. That is why the mats and the pool have to be thoroughly disinfected every morning. After that, the penguins were given their first feed of the day and their medication. We then prepared the enclosure for the day.
Twice a week, all the penguins were weighed so that the staff could keep track of their weight. In addition, a fat check took place twice a week. During this, a vet checked the penguins’ feet and airways. Blood was also taken once a week so that blood values could be monitored. I also learnt here how to easily take blood from penguins.
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What made the biggest impression on you at SANCCOB?
What made the biggest impression on me was the release of penguins at Boulders Beach. We released 20 young and 4 adult penguins here. It was really lovely to see, especially as the 4 adult penguins were also from this colony. The 20 young ones were released first, followed by the adults. The adults immediately walked towards their colony and the young ones quickly followed.
We were allowed to stay and watch for 20 minutes and saw the penguins immediately playing together and exploring their new home. They were accepted by the group and you could really see the character of each penguin. That was so lovely to see! Especially the way they reacted to each other and to the group. It was wonderful to witness the whole process. From their care at SANCCOB and the medical treatment to their release into the wild.
What are the threats to African penguins?
‘The African penguin is in such a dire state right now that it could become extinct within 10 years.’
Many people know that oil spills have caused major problems in the past. Fortunately, this hasn’t happened for a long time. However, there are many other threats to African penguins. Overfishing means there is not enough food available. SANCCOB is working hard to address this. They are trying to combat overfishing by engaging in dialogue with government agencies. The consequences of overfishing are, in fact, very serious. Penguins that are about to moult need to eat enough food beforehand. This gives them a reserve for when they are moulting and cannot fish. Unfortunately, some penguins have not eaten enough, meaning they still have to fish whilst moulting to avoid starving. These penguins temporarily lack a waterproof plumage and sometimes drown whilst searching for more food.
Another major problem is global warming. It is too hot for penguins to incubate their eggs. As a result, nests are abandoned too early during the breeding season. The penguins are simply too hot and have to go into the sea to cool off.
In addition to these threats, there are others. There are, of course, predators such as seals and sharks, and diseases such as avian flu. There is also a shortage of nesting sites. This is because humans create private beaches for tourists and remove the boulders from these areas. As a result, the penguins have no suitable place to build a nest.
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How many birds are there at SANCCOB at any one time?
On average, there are around 150 to 350 birds at the centre. These are mainly African penguins, but the numbers vary greatly depending on the time of year. When I was there, there were few other species. The birds are divided into groups. There is the nursery for penguins up to two weeks old, the outdoor nursery for slightly older chicks, an enclosure for penguins that are moulting, a quarantine area for birds with diseases such as bird flu, and an intensive care unit for penguins with injuries caused by, for example, a shark bite. In addition, there are a number of resident penguins who, unfortunately, cannot survive in the wild and therefore remain at the sanctuary.
When penguins are 5 weeks old, they are allowed to go to the outdoor enclosure. As soon as they are nearly finished moulting, they can start swimming here. They still need to be monitored by carers at this stage. Once the penguins can swim for 20 minutes, they are allowed to move on to the next group. If they can swim for 1 hour here and are completely healthy, they may be released into the wild.
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What do you bring back to your role as a keeper at Beekse Bergen?
I’ve gained a lot of knowledge about administering medication for illnesses and taking blood samples. I’ve also learnt a great deal about the general care of penguins and the layout of their enclosure. For example, I now know how to prepare optimal liquid food. At the centre, they dilute the liquid feed and strain it very thoroughly. This makes it easier for the penguins to consume and allows their digestive systems to process the food more effectively.
I also learnt there that it is very important to keep a close eye on the feet of African penguins. I now check more often during my work to see if they still look completely healthy. Penguins can suffer from bumblefeet. We are also working on a new indoor enclosure at Beekse Bergen so that we have a controlled environment for the penguins adjacent to their own enclosure.
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What can we do at home to help African penguins?
Fortunately, we can also help protect wild penguins from home! Of course, you can support organisations such as Stichting Wildlife, so that penguins in their natural habitat receive assistance. You can also help combat climate change. Try to keep your carbon footprint as small as possible. There are plenty of tips available for small changes that can help you use less energy, for example.
You can also help by checking the labels on the fish you buy. If a package has the ASC label, you are buying farmed fish that has been fed feed not sourced directly from the sea. This is because farmed fish are often fed fish caught from the sea. As a result, overfishing is still not being reduced. You can also look for the MSC label, a certification for sustainably caught fish.
Finally, it is important to respect nature when you are on holiday or out and about in a nature reserve. Admire the animals from a distance and try not to interact with them. This can frighten them or make them dependent on humans.
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