AS PART of this year’s Daily Dispatch/Windmill Fun Run/Walk, hundreds of participants will be able to make a “Penguin Promise”.
The pledge will be to save the endangered African Penguin. A stand will be set up at the Orient Beach for East Londoners to make their promises, said Siani Tinley, chief marine services officer at the East London Aquarium.
Proceeds from the two distances – 4km and 8km races – will go to charity and this year the Friends of the Aquarium (Fela) were chosen.
Not only will the initiative benefit Fela, Penguin Promises will also secure a safer environment for the African penguin, which has declined in numbers due to environmental threats.
According to the national Penguin Promises campaign, the reasons behind the decline included oil spills, competition with commercial fisheries and collection of guano. The absence of guano exposes the eggs to heat and predators as the penguins nest in burrows in the guano.
“Litter in our oceans is a threat to the penguins. If you don’t live on the coast arrange a waterway cleanup in your area because all the water ends up in the sea,” the campaign states. Other suggestions include using less plastic and using water more efficiently.
Daily Dispatch marketing manager Suren Packery said the Dispatch and its co-sponsors were honoured to play a part in the protection of the East London coastline. “We understand this is a ‘drop in the ocean’, but as a community-driven media brand, we have the opportunity and responsibility to make the public aware of how they can make a difference, no matter how small it may appear,” Packery said.
The proceeds will go towards purchasing portable education equipment that will be used in educating pupils from disadvantaged schools about the marine environment. — mamelag@dispatch.co.za
Fun run ‘step in right direction for penguins’
The pledge will be to save the endangered African Penguin. A stand will be set up at the Orient Beach for East Londoners to make their promises, said Siani Tinley, chief marine services officer at the East London Aquarium.
Proceeds from the two distances – 4km and 8km races – will go to charity and this year the Friends of the Aquarium (Fela) were chosen.
Not only will the initiative benefit Fela, Penguin Promises will also secure a safer environment for the African penguin, which has declined in numbers due to environmental threats.
According to the national Penguin Promises campaign, the reasons behind the decline included oil spills, competition with commercial fisheries and collection of guano. The absence of guano exposes the eggs to heat and predators as the penguins nest in burrows in the guano.
“Litter in our oceans is a threat to the penguins. If you don’t live on the coast arrange a waterway cleanup in your area because all the water ends up in the sea,” the campaign states. Other suggestions include using less plastic and using water more efficiently.
Daily Dispatch marketing manager Suren Packery said the Dispatch and its co-sponsors were honoured to play a part in the protection of the East London coastline. “We understand this is a ‘drop in the ocean’, but as a community-driven media brand, we have the opportunity and responsibility to make the public aware of how they can make a difference, no matter how small it may appear,” Packery said.
The proceeds will go towards purchasing portable education equipment that will be used in educating pupils from disadvantaged schools about the marine environment. — mamelag@dispatch.co.za
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