The African Penguin and Seabird Sanctuary, a project of the Dyer Island Conservation Trust, was inspired to start the Overstrand Penguin Campaign to conserve the endangered African penguin. The Overstrand Penguin Campaign officially launched on Friday, 23 August 2019 at the African Penguin and Seabird Sanctuary just outside Gansbaai.
It was a grand day when seven colourful penguins gathered to have their photos taken before they headed off to their respective homes in various Overstrand towns. In December 2020, more colourful penguins joined the group.
Overstrand Penguin Campaign - Objective
The African Penguin is an endemic species to South Africa and Namibia - with an estimated 15,000 breeding pairs left, the species has been on the endangered list since 2010.
Historical factors of guano scraping for agricultural fertilizer destroyed their breeding habitat leading to predation during the crucial fledgeling stage. Coupled with an estimated 13 million-plus eggs that were harvested and considered a delicacy, this caused the initial crash in numbers. Now they face issues of predation by gulls, seals and sharks, oiling, marine pollution and a lack of fish.
Dyer Island off the coast of Gansbaai and Stoney Point in Betty’s Bay are both home to penguin colonies.
Overstrand Penguin Campaign introduces:
#1 - Phumla (African Penguin and Seabird Sanctuary, Kleinbaai)
#2 - Mitsi (Gansbaai Tourism Bureau, Gansbaai)
#3 - POCX (Xplorio, Gansbaai)
#4 - Blue (Marine Dynamics, Kleinbaai)
#5 - Dee Liscious (Blue Goose Restaurant, Gansbaai)
#6 - Gaia (Saxon Lodge, Gansbaai)
#7 - Pearly Percy (Beachcomber Kiosk, Pearly Beach)
#8 - Gans (Gansbaai Library, Gansbaai)
#9 - Sir Robert (Stanford Tourism Bureau)
#10 - Hermie (Hermanus Tourism Bureau)
#11 - Marley (La Pentola Restaurant)
#12 - Peggy (Kleinmond Tourism Bureau)
Penguin Name: Phumla (Xhosa origin, the name means Peace or Tranquillity)
Location: Find Phumla at African Penguin and Seabird Sanctuary
Town: Gansbaai
Sponsor: African Penguin and Seabird Sanctuary
Artist: Stephen Bibb
More about Phumla
Phumla is the most voluptuous of all the penguins. Her theme represents the African penguin and because she was the inspiration for the Overberg Penguin Campaign, considers herself the mascot for this endangered species.
Read about Phumla’s sponsor: African Penguin and Seabird Sanctuary
Penguin Name: Mitsi (Miss Tourism Information)
Location: Find Mitsi at Gansbaai Tourism Bureau, Great White Junction
Town: Gansbaai
Sponsor: Gansbaai Tourism Bureau
Artist: Art by Mich
More about Mitsi
Mitsi’s theme is “Toeka-Tot-Nou” (translated from Afrikaans it means from then until now). She will assist you with all you need to know about Gansbaai and the surrounding area. Visit her, you may be pleasantly surprised at what she has to tell you.
Read about Mitsi’s sponsor: Gansbaai Tourism Bureau
Penguin Name: POCX
Location: Find POCX at Xplorio
Town: Gansbaai
Sponsor: Xplorio
Artists: Mishke Korkie, Nicole Cowley, River Thomas, Christopher Dammert, Candice Van Wyk, Elzanne Bosch, Monique Kleynhans, Jean-Pierre Nieuwoudt and Corine Behm.
More about POCX
POCX is the abbreviation for “Power of Community'' which is the inspiration from where Xplorio was born. The Xplorio team styled POCX with a colourful coat depicting many of the businesses in-and-around Gansbaai.
Read about POCX’s sponsor: Xplorio
Blue: Marine Dynamics
Penguin Name: Blue
Location: Find Blue at The Great White House
Town: Kleinbaai, Gansbaai
Sponsor: Marine Dynamics
Artist: Stephen Bibb
More about Blue
Blue believes that the ocean is the Blue Heart of Planet Earth and needs to be protected and cherished.
Read about Blue’s sponsor: Marine Dynamics and The Great White House
Penguin Name: Dee Liscious
Location: Find Dee Liscious at Blue Goose Restaurant
Town: Gansbaai
Sponsor: Blue Goose Restaurant
Artist: Warren Stegman
More about Dee Liscious
Dee Liscious - dee-lightful - dee-vine and her theme, “It’s a kind of magic” says it all!
Read about Dee Liscious’s sponsor: Blue Goose Restaurant
Penguin Name: Gaia
Location: Find Gaia at Saxon Lodge
Town: Gansbaai
Sponsor: Saxon Lodge
Artist: Saxon Lodge
More about Gaia
Gaia is a wise bird whose theme is, “4,543 Billion years Old and Counting!”
Read about Gaia’s sponsor: Saxon Lodge
Penguin Name: Pearly Percy
Location: Beachcomber Kiosk
Town: Pearly Beach
Sponsor: Pearly Beach Community (Gansbaai & Pearly Beach Horse Trails, Beachcomber’s Perlemoen Trail and Pearly Beach Shop)
Artist: Jason Stonehewer
More about Pearly Percy
Pearly Percy is a people's penguin and loves the social scene. So much so that he often needs to spread his little flippers, and waddle from place to place in Pearly Beach to hang out with new friends and old!
Read about: Fynbos Deck Deli & Restaurant, Gansbaai & Pearly Beach Horse Trails, Beachcomber's Perlemoen Trail and Pearly Beach Shop
Penguin Name: Gans
Location: Gansbaai Library
Town: Gansbaai
Sponsor: Gansbaai Municipality
Artist: Dries van Heerden
More about Gans
Gans makes Gansbaai lekker and depicts Gansbaai’s fishing harbour as well as the Marine Big 5 and the Klipgat Caves with pride.
Read about: Gansbaai Municipality
Penguin Name: Sir Robert
Location: Stanford Tourism Bureau
Town: Stanford
Sponsor: Stanford Tourism Bureau
Artist: Antoinette Coetzee
Sir Robert is named after the founder of Stanford, Sir Robert Stanford, and has a coat that depicts the Klein River, fields of fynbos and the historic church.
Read about: Stanford Tourism Bureau
Penguin Name: Hermie
Location: Hermanus Tourism Bureau
Town: Hermanus
Sponsor: Hermanus Tourism Bureau
Artist: Timothy Clarence Braaf
More about Hermie
Hermie is waiting to pose for a selfie with You!
Read about: Hermanus Tourism Bureau
Penguin Name: Marley
Location: La Pentola Restaurant
Town: Hermanus
Sponsor: Shane Savage, La Pentola
Artist: Unknown
Marley is waiting to pose for a selfie with You!
Read about: La Pentola Restaurant
Penguin Name: Peggy
Location: Kleinmond Tourism Bureau
Town: Kleinmond
Sponsor: Kleinmond Tourism Bureau
Artist: Antoinette Coetzee
Peggy “looks just like a Peggy!”
Read about: Kleinmond Tourism Bureau
Support the Overstrand Penguin Campaign by collecting your free Penguin Passport at your local tourism information and visitors centre.
How To Use Your Penguin Passport
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