When Two Worlds Collide
Threatened and endangered species are constantly at the forefront of my mind. In California, our at risk for oiling threatened and endangered species include the California condor, southern sea otter, several amphibian species and many others vulnerable to oiling.
Across the world, one species that connects directly to an oil spill survival story is the African penguin.
Although the population of African penguins ultimately survived the Treasure Spill, a devastating spill that impacted roughly 40,000 African penguins back in 2000, they are now facing extinction in the coming years. And people are the number one factor driving that decline.
Recently, while in South Africa for the Effects of Oil on Wildlife Conference (EOW), I had the incredible opportunity to not only see African Penguins in their natural habitat, but also to witness 11 birds being released back into the wild after time in care at the South African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB).
Many of you know that before joining OWCN, I worked as an Animal Care Specialist at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, CA, where I cared for Magellanic penguins — one of the other three banded penguins in the Spheniscus family. Visiting SANCCOB has been a dream of mine for years, and standing among conservationists caring for animals so dear to me felt deeply full-circle.
After years of sharing the African penguin story with guests while care for Magellanics, I finally saw them with my own eyes. Penguins changed my life; they shifted my sense of responsibility. Their charisma draws people in, and the more people watching, the higher the pressure to make zero mistakes. Zero mistakes is always the goal, but we are human, and even with our best intentions, errors can happen along the way.
To tell the story of the banded penguins accurately, you have to show up as your best self. Penguins pushed me to do that. They expanded my species knowledge, strengthened my professionalism, and taught me how to lead with kindness and compassion.
One message I often shared was about the ship-to-ship offshore fuel transfers, where mishaps and spills do occur to this day. At EOW, we learned that SANCCOB is collecting real-time data on penguin presence in areas where these fuel transfers take place. This information will be so crucial in shaping new policies to protect the African penguins and their habitat.
Visiting SANCCOB and hearing these conversations in real time allowed me to educate myself in ways that directly inform my work with California species. It reinforced the importance of clear, updated pulic signage; meaningful city and state engagement to protect wild spaces; and encouraging local businesses to sponsor wildlife centers. In Cape Town, South Africa, the African penguin is a symbol of their community. The investment in their continued survival is everywhere.
My worlds have collided many times since joining the OWCN, but this experience stands out a one of the most memorable. I am forever grateful for it, and I look forward to sharing what I learned and applying it to the work we do here at home.
