Stranded on the beach at Kosi Bay on the November 9th last year, she was found virtually motionless suffering from heat stroke and a badly damaged leg. She was taken to uShaka Sea World in Durban where veterinarian Dr Francois Lampen and animal care staff immediately started her treatment.
It was evident that she was in serious trouble, not only because she was so far from her natural home range, suffering heat stroke and an injured leg, but because she was in the middle of a moult.
Penguins need to remain on land throughout their moult as they are not waterproof during this time. What led 18 month old Chino to enter the water mid moult and head off in the wrong direction, remains a mystery. Thankfully, she found herself in safe, caring and capable hands amongst the staff at uShaka Sea World.
Weighing just less than 3kg, she was given rehydration fluids, started on a course of antibiotics and left to rest in a quiet corner for the night. The first 24 hours were nerve wracking for the staff as they monitored her closely to see if she had enough strength to survive the night. And survive she did, very slowly at first but then, as her appetite returned and she started to eat 12 pilchards a day, she started to gain weight, complete her moult and combat the infection which had set in the break in her left leg.
Thankfully, within a few weeks of arriving at uShaka Sea World, she was able to stand unaided and even take a few steps. She loved spending time in the rehabilitation pools, swimming, diving and at the same time exercising her leg. After six weeks in hospital, she was declared strong enough to join the resident penguin colony. She will still need to wear her bandage for a while longer as she adjusts to her new way of waddling.
Chino was immediately accepted by the penguins in the colony and rumour has it that she has already found a special friend with whom she spends her days. She will remain a permanent resident in the penguin colony at uShaka Sea World as her challenge would compromise her ability to survive on her own.
The African Penguin (Spheniscusdemersus) which is endemic to the Southern African coast has suffered a 97% decline in population figures over the past century and is currently classified as Endangered.
You can help save the African Penguin from extinction by ensuring you place your litter in bins, recycling whenever possible and purchasing sustainably harvested fish.
Look for the white tick on blue MSC labels when next you purchase frozen fish from your local supermarkets. Healthy Oceans are good for penguins as well as people.
