AP263 - not just a number – but a special little penguin!
By Karen Keeton

1. News

On Thursday 22nd September, Kyle, our part time skipper called me with concern as we were prepping for a marine-eco cruise out into the Bay with a group of guests from around Europe. There was an injured African Penguin in the harbour. It swam towards Kyle who managed to pick it up.  The little penguin was weak and did not look good. The guests had arrived and were so interested. It was so sad to see the small African Penguin in such bad shape.

“Proppie” as I called the Penguin, later named Grumpy, swam to us seeking help. And of course, the team at SANCCOB did not skip a beat and got there promptly to attend to Grumpy and whisk him/her away to the Rehab Centre.

It was named “Proppie”, as we thought the injury was caused by a propellor – this very seldom happens. It turns out that Proppie was not well and very weak before getting the nasty cut. It was therefore not as quick in the water as the penguins usually are and thus more vulnerable to injury.

This little penguin was a patient once before. It was first brought to the SANCCOB Rehabilitation centre as an abandoned chick on the 20th August 2021 and was released back on Bird Island as a healthy blue on the 4th October 2021.  Maybe it just knew where to go when in trouble and needing help.

You may be wondering why I am noting he/she, him/her, it? It is very difficult to differentiate male from female African penguins until they are mature and even then, it is still not easy or accurate. The males are slightly larger and have bigger beaks than females when mature. With Grumpy being at SANCCOB as a blue (they have a blue tinge to their first proper feathers) and then a juvenile (young adult – it takes about 24 months for penguins to get their adult black and white plumage), we are still not sure of his/her sex. The only way to determine the sex 100% is through DNA testing.

I felt a connection with this penguin for some reason, as did Kyle. I followed Grumpy’s journey just hoping that it would make it. I waited with bated breath to write this story.

Debbie of SANCCOB kept in touch all the way, updating me with each step Grumpy took through this traumatic time.

“It was found on the 22nd September, 2022 in PE Harbour as a Juvenile by Raggy Charters with severe injuries to its left flank and leg.  A few days after admission a blood test showed that it had Avian Malaria.  The day after treatment started it started having seizures and was closely monitored in ICU.  During this period it was too weak to undergo an operation as anaesthetic would have been too risky. 

However, the strong fighting spirit of this penguin meant that the first operation could be performed by Dr Matt from Mt Croix Animal Clinic.  He was assisted by Debbie Layne, one of SANCCOB’s Bird Rehabilitators.  The first operation was to remove a big flap of skin and suture the wound closed.

This penguin kept fighting and underwent 3 further operations to debride the wound and keep stitching the skin together.  These operations were performed by Dr Gabby Howse, assisted by Debbie Layne.

The penguin went into moult during November and the last stitches were removed on the 17th November, 2022.  We then began the process of waterproofing the bird, before it could finally be released on the 20th December, 2022.  This moult was from Juvenile to Adult.

As you can see, this penguin has been with us through all 4 stages, Chick to Blue to Juvenile and Adult.  Hopefully it will enjoy a good life in freedom and help to increase our diminishing penguin population.”

I was delighted to be able to tell Kyle the good news. Grumpy was ready to be released in December 2022. Exactly 3 months after being taken to SANCCOB. We were so emotional and relieved, such happy news.

I would like to thank the SANCCOB team for all their efforts with helping to save our African Penguins. I do not think we know just how much they do!  Please support SANCCOB!

 22 Sept 2022 pick up day and onto IV fluids, antibiotics and pain killers

 28 Sep 2022 safe and resting comfortably                           28 Sep 2022 doing better and been to theatre

     03 Oct 2022 after another theatre visit

“Your baby in theatre today.  Op went well but he is still a very sick little bird.  We are hopping he will pull through but not out of danger yet.  We are fighting a tick born disease called Borrelia as well as Malaria”

    12 Oct 2022 : “Our baby is doing a lot better.  Still very sore and has a long way still to go but I think out if danger”

    15 Oct 2022 Doing so well

24 Nov 2022 In Full Malt and looking oh so Grumpy!

“Just look at your Grumpy now.  All ops are finished, and he is well healed.  Grumpy and in full moult.  Once the moult is finished, we just wait for full waterproofing and then he will be released”

19 Dec2022 I went to visit to wish Grumpy well on his next journey – being released tomorrow!

Please notice the little plume fluffs in it’s mouth - does not like any other penguin to come near – perhaps the painful journey has caused this behaviour

20 Dec 2022 ready to go home!

 Grumpy and friend ready to be released near St Croix Island by Jake and Lara – a Swedish Volunteer working at SANCCOB