Meet the Penguins

The staff at the Sancob Seabird Rescue Centre in Cape Town are busy cleaning and rehabilitating a penguin that has been contaminated by oil. At the same time, would‑be father Winston goes overboard with his nest‑building, taking the activity to an extreme.

The show is a single episode that follows the daily work at Sancob Seabird Rescue Centre in Cape Town. It gives viewers a close‑up of the team – veterinarians, volunteers and experienced handlers – who dedicate their time to caring for injured and distressed seabirds, offering a glimpse into the centre’s routine operations. In this instalment the staff confront a penguin that’s been contaminated by oil, launching a rescue effort to clean and rehabilitate the bird. They also assess the penguin’s stress levels and provide supportive feeding, ensuring a comprehensive recovery plan. The team works methodically, applying de‑contamination techniques and monitoring the animal’s health. Meanwhile, a resident male called Winston, eager to prove himself as a father, takes his nest‑building duties to an extreme. His enthusiasm leads him to construct a structure that goes well beyond what’s required, even threatening neighbouring nests, prompting gentle reminders from the staff. This provides a light‑hearted contrast to the serious rescue work. The episode juxtaposes the meticulous care required to treat an oil‑soaked penguin with Winston’s over‑zealous construction, highlighting both the challenges faced by the rescue team and the quirky behaviours of the birds they tend. It underscores the delicate balance between human intervention and natural animal behaviour, reminding viewers of the ongoing commitment needed to protect coastal wildlife.