On October 14^th, join the worldwide waddle to help raise awareness about African penguins with events taking place in Cape Town, Joburg and Durbs.

Did you know that there’s this huge, worldwide waddle happening on October 14th? And it’s not about dance moves, folks. We’re talking about African penguins, and they need our help, big time.

They’re calling it the #NotOnOurWatch movement, and it’s gone global, from the USA to France, South Africa, Mozambique, and Japan. It’s like the penguin Olympics, with cities all over South Africa hosting their own waddles for International African Penguin Awareness Day.

Down in Cape Town, the Two Oceans Aquarium is leading the charge, waddling its way from Simon’s Town to Boulders Beach – basically penguin paradise. Durban’s uShaka Sea World is joining the fun with a parkrun, face painting for the kiddos, and some big-screen action. Johannesburg Zoo’s in on it too, as well as SANCCOB in Gqeberha, and the National Zoological Garden in Pretoria.

And guess what? Dr. Judy Mann, the brain behind the #NotOnOurWatch campaign, is stoked about all this support. She says it’s just the beginning. Conservation might be tough, but it’s clear that people care about these African penguins.

Now, here’s the deal – the #NotOnOurWatch (#NOOW) campaign is only a year old, but it’s got some serious goals. They want the South African government to step up and protect these penguins before they vanish in just 12 years. I mean, their numbers have dropped 99% in the last century, so this is no joke.

Even UNESCO and the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development are giving this movement a nod of approval. African penguins are like the canaries in the coal mine, warning us about what’s happening to our planet. If we can save them, we might just save other species too.

Over in Colorado, they’re having a virtual event for African penguins on October 10th, followed by a “Waddle and Wine” – sounds like my kind of party! And it’s not just the US; places like Tampa, Atlanta, Kentucky, Pittsburgh, and Loxahatchee, Florida, are all joining in the waddle fun.

Ripley’s aquariums are in on it too, in Tennessee, Toronto, and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. And that’s not even the whole list – France and Japan are on board as well, along with a bunch of other organizations hosting their own waddles and events.

So, mark your calendars for October 14th, and let’s get ready to waddle to save those adorable African penguins. It’s a global effort, and we’re all in this together. 🐧✨