An update on the story of Backman, and his partner Happy Feet
Backman – the penguin who was afraid of water – read the first installment and Backman’s incredible journey here.
In early July 2024, the team at Tenikwa noticed that every pebble, stick, shell, etc. from around the penguin rehab pool and “beach” were being carried into the “hide” – a little fake rock in the enclosure – by Happy Feet and Backman. They were being very unsociable with the other penguins and spent more and more time in the rock with this little nest they were building. It soon became apparent that these two love birds were likely to start breeding. This, of course, would have been perfect had they been out of rehab and on an island where they could raise their chick the way it should be raised.
Another plan needed to be formed as the original plan had been to release them together on a beach in Plettenberg Bay. This needed to be scrapped as it could take them up to two weeks to go to an island to nest and breed. We needed to find them a safe island and would physically need to take them there. The team, however, didn’t have a plan for this, so thinking caps were donned and conservation connections contacted. It was decided, with permission from and the support of SANCCOB, Backman’s local vet and CapeNature, that Backman and Happy Feet would need to be physically relocated.
Enter Christina Hagen and a discussion about releasing the love birds on De Hoop Penguin Colony outside Cape Town. Now, the team only needed to wait for the right weather with assistance from skipper Ruan of Ocean Sailing Charters. Ruan’s monitoring paid off and, on the 18th July, we got the all-clear from CapeNature and Christina for the release to go ahead on the 20th July 2024!
As luck would have it, Robberg Vets’ vet nurse, Hanlie, was heading to Cape Town on the morning of the 20th! So, she detoured slightly to De Hoop penguin colony – five hours from Plett with Backman and Happy Feet, and all the sticks, pebbles and shells they had collected. They had a road trip to freedom and a wonderful home at De Hoop.
Hanlie and Christina found a perfect nesting spot for them on the island and kept them – and their nesting items – contained in a pen until just before dark so they would stay on the island until morning. The Tenikwa team could only imagine all the emotions for these two African penguins who had been in captivity for so long.
As both Happy Feet and Backman had transponders fitted, Christina could monitor them if they left the island and came back, if and when they walked over the readers. There are also cameras situated on the island which makes spotting them easier. A few days after the release Happy Feet’s transponder had alerted Christina that she was on the island and shortly after that Christina spotted a very short adult penguin that looked very much like Backman on the island as well!
All we can now hope for is that they have decided to call De Hoop home and will settle there and contribute to establishing the colony on the island. All of this would not be possible without the many people that worked as a team to help save these penguins and get them to where they belong.
We cannot thank you all enough!! Happy trails to brave Backman and Happy Feet.
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