Saturday, 13 October, SANCCOB (the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds) and numerous other local and international organisations, zoos and aquariums celebrated African Penguin Awareness Day (APAD). APAD is a day dedicated to raising worldwide awareness about the plight of the endangered African penguin. SANCCOB, together with SANParks and Boulders Beach Lodge and Restaurant, hosted the 12^th annual Simon’s Town Penguin Festival to commemorate APAD.

Since the SELI 1 caused a major oil slick off Table Bay on Saturday, 1 September 2012, SANCCOB admitted a total of 254 seabirds to their centre in Table View for rehabilitation. The birds admitted included 219 oiled, endangered African penguins, 2 oiled Cape Gannets, 33 penguin chicks and 3 eggs that were abandoned as a result of their parents being oiled. With the help of the dedicated staff and volunteers of SANCCOB, the last of the oiled birds were washed on 19 September and were admitted for rehabilitation together with the other birds affected by the oil slick. Two of the eggs have hatched in SANCCOB’s Chick Rearing Unit while one was deemed not viable. Small groups of African penguins have been released back into the wild after getting the final nod-of-approval from SANCCOB’s veterinary team. On Thursday, SANCCOB proudly released the 100^th African penguin affected by the SELI 1 oil slick off the coast of Robben Island.