At Mystic Aquarium, conservation extends far beyond our campus. Through ongoing partnerships with organizations around the world, our team works to protect vulnerable marine species and support critical wildlife rehabilitation efforts wherever they are needed most. 

In November 2025, Mystic Aquarium continued that commitment by supporting SANCCOB — the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds — through an on-site staff collaboration focused on African penguin rehabilitation and conservation.  

African penguins are classified as critically endangered, with wild populations continuing to decline due to predation, extreme weather/climate change, food insecurity, pollution and disease. SANCCOB plays a vital role in protecting the species through rescue, rehabilitation, chick-rearing, research, and release programs that help thousands of seabirds every year. 

As part of Mystic Aquarium’s support efforts, Penguin Trainer Isaac Bergfalk traveled to South Africa to work alongside SANCCOB’s rehabilitation team and assist with the organization’s daily conservation operations. During his time there, he supported many aspects of seabird care, including food preparation, habitat sanitation, medical treatments, feeding, behavioral monitoring, swim therapy, and rehabilitation support for injured and abandoned penguins. 

The experience also provided valuable opportunities for knowledge sharing between conservation professionals. Working directly within SANCCOB’s rehabilitation and nursery facilities gave Mystic Aquarium staff additional hands-on experience caring for penguins requiring intensive medical support, including birds recovering from entanglement injuries, shark bites, and severe malnutrition.

One particularly impactful area of support was SANCCOB’s Chick Bolstering Project, which provides around-the-clock care for abandoned and at-risk African penguin chicks. The nursery operates continuously during breeding season, with birds requiring frequent feedings, hydration, medication, monitoring, and medical assessments. During one intake alone, the SANCCOB team admitted fifteen new chicks in a single day — underscoring both the scale of the conservation challenge and the urgency of intervention efforts.

In addition to rehabilitation work, the collaboration highlighted the importance of conservation research. SANCCOB staff conduct ongoing studies related to penguin health, recovery, and release readiness, helping improve rehabilitation outcomes and inform future conservation strategies for the species.

One of the most meaningful moments of the experience came during the release of seven rehabilitated penguins back into the wild at Stony Point Penguin Colony in Betty’s Bay, South Africa. After extensive medical care and rehabilitation, the penguins were successfully returned to their natural habitat — a powerful reminder of the impact conservation partnerships can have on vulnerable wildlife populations.

Partnerships like this are an important part of Mystic Aquarium’s broader conservation mission. By supporting global organizations like SANCCOB, our team not only contributes directly to wildlife rescue and rehabilitation efforts but also brings valuable knowledge and experience back to Mystic Aquarium to strengthen the care we provide every day.

To learn more about SANCCOB and their conservation work protecting African penguins, visit SANCCOB.co.za or follow them on social media @sanccob.