Injured Mole penguin rescued

A penguin that was rescued at the Mole on Saturday by members of the Swakopmund Neighbourhood Watch is recovering well at the Penguin Rehabilitation Centre in Swakopmund. Jörg Heiser from the Swakopmund Neighbourhood Watch said the penguin was spotted on the rock barricade next to the walkway wall by a member of the public at 18:00. “We could see that the penguin was injured. He was sitting between the rocks close to the small wooden jetty. Another member and I jumped onto the rocks and I caught the bird using a welding glove,” said Heiser. The penguin was taken to the Penguin Rehabilitation Centre where Dr Sandra Dantu took care of its wounds. According to her the wounds on its flippers and across its belly are not serious. She said the injuries were most likely caused by a seal. “The penguin is now being kept in a safe enclosed space and will be released as soon as he has recovered fully. It is not unusual to find penguins at the Mole, this is the third or fourth one we’ve found this year,” said Dantu. She appealed to members of the public to contact the centre, the Swakopmund Vet Clinic, the SPCA or the Ministry of Environment and Tourism if they see any injured sea birds, especially penguins. “If you can pick up a wild animal, the animal is most likely injured. Penguins do bite and should be approached with caution. They are however not vicious and will not attack humans. Use a towel or blanket to cover the bird’s head and hold it firmly at the back of the head while using your other hand to pick it up,” she said. Penguins and other wild birds can be transported in a box. Dantu warned that penguins should not be placed in water and that people should not attempt to force feed them. They should be kept in a cool, quiet place.According to Dantu, penguins are usually released from Lüderitz, close to their breeding grounds. “We try to send the penguins down to Lüderitz with members of the ministry, but when there is no lift available we try to take them down ourselves or we release them at Vierkantklip, close to Swakopmund,” she said. Members of the public can contact Dantu at the Penguin Rehabilitation Centre on 081 129 4901 or 064 402 765.JESSICA BOTES

Injured Mole penguin rescued

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Namibian Sun 2026-06-26

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Injured Mole penguin rescued

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Namibian Sun 2026-06-26

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