On 25 and 26 August, CapeNature hosted two workshops for Tour Guides in the Ecovenue at Stony Point. As BBC Penguin-Pals volunteers plan to help with visitor awareness at the colony, five of us were able to join the workshops. Nina and Brian attended on Wednesday, and Liz, Jenni and I joined the Thursday group.
The programme included background information on Stony Point by Steve Gildenhuys (formerly of CapeNature), the status of the African Penguin by Michelle van der Merwe of SANCCOB and insight into the other animals found in the colony by Vathiswa of WWF. Natanya of CapeNature facilitated some fun role-plays and the rangers conducted a walk along the boardwalk. Participants enjoyed lunch at On the Edge restaurant.
The weather on Thursday, compared to a windy Wednesday, was favourable for a penguin release. This group of tour guides also had the privilege of watching the release of five penguins, recently rehabilitated at SANCCOB.
The tour guides gained more insight into the critically endangered status of the penguins, and how to educate their groups to visit the colony in a calm manner to reduce stress on the penguins.
Tourists have been observed doing many inappropriate things that stress and compromise the penguins: blocking their pathways to and from the sea and their nests, crowding the birds, standing too close, trying to take close selfies, walking into the vegetation, climbing over barriers, and looking into nests.
On Thursday, we discussed how guides could educate tour groups before they arrive. I suggested that guides could use the BBC sign with the QR code that links to the BBC Visitor Guidelines. This will be included in the post-workshop information from CapeNature. We hope that guides will share this with their clients to inform them before they arrive about how to visit Stony Point in a manner that reduces stress on the penguins.
Carol Clark
Group photos: CapeNature