Two Oceans Aquarium Archives - Good Things Guy https://www.goodthingsguy.com/tag/two-oceans-aquarium/ Tue, 07 Apr 2026 12:22:27 +0000 en-ZA hourly 1 https://www.goodthingsguy.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/cropped-gtg_favicon-32x32.png Two Oceans Aquarium Archives - Good Things Guy https://www.goodthingsguy.com/tag/two-oceans-aquarium/ 32 32 Heads Up to Our Earth-Kind Heroes – Search for SA’s Green Stars is On! https://www.goodthingsguy.com/environment/eco-logic-awards-2026/ https://www.goodthingsguy.com/environment/eco-logic-awards-2026/#respond Tue, 07 Apr 2026 13:00:15 +0000 https://www.goodthingsguy.com/?p=182868

Turning green into gold, entries to this year’s Eco-Logic Awards have opened.   South Africa (07 April 2026) – Heads up to all eco-innovators, sustainability champions and earth-kind heroes across...

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Turning green into gold, entries to this year’s Eco-Logic Awards have opened.

 

South Africa (07 April 2026) – Heads up to all eco-innovators, sustainability champions and earth-kind heroes across South Africa – the Eco-Logic Awards 2026 are officially open for entries!

Now in their 15th year, the Eco-Logic Awards are South Africa’s most loved celebration of the people, projects and businesses finding smarter, kinder and better ways to look after our planet. From water-saving technologies to circular fashion and community-driven conservation, these awards exist to find the change-makers and make sure their work gets the spotlight it deserves.

Africa’s social impact economy is currently worth an estimated $96 billion annually and supports around 12 million jobs, with South Africans playing a huge role in driving that forward. Every innovative solution, every community project, every eco-conscious business is part of something far bigger.

Last year, Pure Flow Amanzi took silver for a gravity-fed water filtration system, bringing clean, safe drinking water to rural communities. Up-Cycled Cloth Collective took gold for transforming discarded textiles into fashion that people love. More on that here.

Backed over the years by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment and a host of leading corporate partners, the awards recognise Gold, Silver and Bronze winners across 12 categories including Climate Change, Water Conservation, Circular Economy and Waste Innovation, Eco-Fashion and Lifestyle, Eco-Innovation, and Eco-Communities.

Entry is completely free and open to individuals, organisations, businesses and community groups. Submissions close at the end of June 2026, and this year’s celebration takes place on 5 October (World Habitat Day) at the Two Oceans Aquarium in Cape Town, with the brilliant Themba Robin back as MC.

If you’re doing the work, go show it off. Head here to enter or find out more.


Sources: Eco-Logic Awards.
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Or catch an episode of Good Things with Brent Lindeque or our Weekly Top 5 below. The videos here are always changing, updated with the latest episodes from these two shows. Both are part of Good Things TV, created to bring South Africans balance at a time when the news can feel overwhelmingly negative. Our goal is simple: to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in our country – and to leave you feeling a little more proudly South African. 

 

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Green Careers Ahead as WWF’s Environmental Interns Ready to Soar https://www.goodthingsguy.com/environment/green-careers-wwf/ https://www.goodthingsguy.com/environment/green-careers-wwf/#respond Wed, 01 Apr 2026 08:30:38 +0000 https://www.goodthingsguy.com/?p=182452

The programme equips young professionals with the hands-on experience they need to lead a better, greener South Africa!   Newlands, South Africa (01 April 2026) – The World Wide Fund...

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The programme equips young professionals with the hands-on experience they need to lead a better, greener South Africa!

 

Newlands, South Africa (01 April 2026)The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) in South Africa has been running its Environmental Leaders Graduate Internship Programme for 15 years now. It’s become a bridge for Honours and Master’s graduates as they move into the working world.

The twelve-month-long paid internship programme, which runs every two years, gives recent graduates the experience and professional networking they need to actually build long-term careers in the environmental sector.

The programme responds to real skill shortages in South Africa. While we usually think of conservation in a traditional sense, the programme also places interns in high-demand, emerging fields like green engineering, sustainable architecture, and economics.

By focusing on these gaps, WWF helps build SA’s next generation of green fighters who bring their skills into wide-ranging fields, ensuring we have the right people, in all the right places, protecting the environment.

Over the years, interns have been hosted at leading organisations like SANParks, the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI), the Two Oceans Aquarium, and the Wildlands Conservation Trust.

The latest cohort includes graduates from universities all across the country currently completing their internships this month. The celebration was marked with a valedictory in the Newlands.

As the class of 2026 gear up for the next phase of their professional lives, they leave the programme equipped to protect and lead a better environmental future for South Africa! 


Sources: WWF South Africa.
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Or catch an episode of Good Things with Brent Lindeque or our Weekly Top 5 below. The videos here are always changing, updated with the latest episodes from these two shows. Both are part of Good Things TV, created to bring South Africans balance at a time when the news can feel overwhelmingly negative. Our goal is simple: to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in our country – and to leave you feeling a little more proudly South African. 

 

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Two Oceans Aquarium Honours Long-Serving Staff and Volunteers https://www.goodthingsguy.com/people/two-oceans-aquarium-honours-long-serving-staff-and-volunteers/ https://www.goodthingsguy.com/people/two-oceans-aquarium-honours-long-serving-staff-and-volunteers/#respond Tue, 31 Mar 2026 08:30:57 +0000 https://www.goodthingsguy.com/?p=182317

The Mother City’s Two Oceans Aquarium recently held its Long Service Awards for the people who’ve kept the magic happening for more than a decade!   Cape Town, South Africa...

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The Mother City’s Two Oceans Aquarium recently held its Long Service Awards for the people who’ve kept the magic happening for more than a decade!

 

Cape Town, South Africa (31 March 2026) – The awards recognise staff and volunteers who’ve dedicated years toward helping the organisation spotlight, protect, and educate about marine wildlife, including sea turtles, African penguins, seals, seabirds, fish, sharks, and many more.

The aquarium runs on about 80 staff members and a pool of volunteers. Together, they manage sea turtle rescue and rehabilitation, shark tagging and release, marine wildlife management at the V&A Waterfront, and education programmes that reach thousands of school children a year, including kids from disadvantaged communities who are reached through outreach.

“As many of you may know, the Two Oceans Aquarium is a world-class tourist attraction in the heart of Cape Town and has been responsible for making memories, educating thousands, and changing lives for many years. None of this would be possible without our dedicated staff and volunteers.” shared Two Oceans Aquarium.

The awards celebrated nine staff members and volunteers who have committed a decade or more to serving the aquarium.

Photo Credit: Two Oceans Aquarium

With 10 years of service, Ayrton King, Melissa Pillay, Saleigh Adams, Wandiswa Jonga, and Krish Lewis all received certificates. As did Rudi Schmidt for his 15 years of service and Nathalie Viljoen for 25 years of making the magic happen at the Two Oceans Aquarium.

Photo Credit: Two Oceans Aquarium

Volunteers Kassiem Blows and Nabewieyah Ismail were honoured for 20 years of commitment!

Photo Credit: Two Oceans Aquarium

Behind every rescued turtle, every thriving exhibit and every child who walks away inspired, there’s a team of people who’ve chosen to stay, to serve, and to care for years on end. Well done to all awardees. Keep inspiring love and compassion for our marine wildlife.


Sources: Linked above.
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Or catch an episode of Good Things with Brent Lindeque or our Weekly Top 5 below. The videos here are always changing, updated with the latest episodes from these two shows. Both are part of Good Things TV, created to bring South Africans balance at a time when the news can feel overwhelmingly negative. Our goal is simple: to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in our country – and to leave you feeling a little more proudly South African. 

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Team Comes Together to Save Terribly Injured Seal in Hout Bay https://www.goodthingsguy.com/environment/team-comes-together-to-save-terribly-injured-seal-in-hout-bay/ https://www.goodthingsguy.com/environment/team-comes-together-to-save-terribly-injured-seal-in-hout-bay/#respond Fri, 27 Mar 2026 12:30:40 +0000 https://www.goodthingsguy.com/?p=182061

A Cape fur seal spotted with a tight noose around its neck in Hout Bay has been successfully freed after a coordinated rescue effort!   Western Cape, South Africa (27...

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A Cape fur seal spotted with a tight noose around its neck in Hout Bay has been successfully freed after a coordinated rescue effort!

 

Western Cape, South Africa (27 March 2026) – The Hout Bay Seal Rescue Centre first raised concern over the weekend when the Cape fur seal was seen with a piece of discarded material cutting into its neck, like a noose.

The photos are difficult to look at, but they show the reality of entanglement. How quickly waste in the ocean can turn into a serious, life-threatening injury…

Photo Credit: Hout Bay Seal Rescue Centre

An initial rescue attempt on Sunday, supported by the NSRI and the Two Oceans Aquarium, was unsuccessful when the seal unfortunately left the harbour before the team could reach him.

Then, on a second sighting, things came together!

“This morning the [Cape fur seal] with the noose around his neck came into the Hout Bay Harbour again. We had everything we needed, the skill, the tools and the dedication. All we needed was a boat to get to him.”

That final piece came down to compassionate people willing to help. The team reached out to Captain Jack’s Ocean Safaris, and without hesitation, they agreed to take Amos, Abel and Jo out on their boat.

“We reached out to Captain Jack’s Ocean Safaris Hout Bay to take [us] out in their boat and they said yes!!”

Photo Credit: Hout Bay Seal Rescue Centre

Using a long hook borrowed from fellow marine heroes at Two Oceans Aquarium, the team was able to reach the seal from the vessel.

“We knew that we would be able to get close enough with the long hook that the Two Oceans Aquarium has lent us to do the job.”

Because everything came together so speedily, the team was able to act quickly when the seal returned.

“So all aboard and out they went. It took one stretch forward, under the noose with the hook, the seal jumped off the pipe and the blade cut up and released the rope.”

The seal is now free and back in the salty ocean water, where its wounds can begin to heal up!

“We are so grateful to Anthea and team from Captain Jacks Safaris and the Aquarium helping us. So now the seal will heal in the salty ocean.”

Photo Credit: Hout Bay Seal Rescue Centre

Cases like this are part of a much bigger problem along South Africa’s coastline. Research tracking Cape fur seals over time has recorded hundreds of entanglements, most linked to discarded fishing gear and plastic waste. These materials can tighten, cut, and worsen wounds over time, which often leads to severe injury or death if animals aren’t reached in time.

That’s why what happens before waste reaches the ocean matters just as much as what happens after. Fishing line left behind on rocks, beaches or harbours can easily be pulled back into the sea by wind and waves, where it becomes almost invisible and incredibly dangerous to marine life.

There are already efforts along the coast trying to intercept this waste early. Projects like WESSA’s Stop the Strangle campaign are rolling out dedicated collection bins at popular fishing spots to catch discarded line before it washes into the ocean.

The Hout Bay Seal Rescue Centre are heroes who need help to keep up their meaningful work in rescuing and rehabilitating seals in need across the Western Cape.

The organisation is currently raising funds to cover the costs of a new rescue vehicle as their trusted old bakkie has reached the end of its lifespan. Beyond that, help covering operational costs like medical supplies and fuel is also needed. Your support will help keep the seals safe. Donate here.


Sources: Linked above.
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Or catch an episode of Good Things with Brent Lindeque or our Weekly Top 5 below. The videos here are always changing, updated with the latest episodes from these two shows. Both are part of Good Things TV, created to bring South Africans balance at a time when the news can feel overwhelmingly negative. Our goal is simple: to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in our country – and to leave you feeling a little more proudly South African. 

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Brave Swimmers Take on Icy Ocean Crossing to Save Endangered Turtles https://www.goodthingsguy.com/environment/brave-swimmers-take-on-icy-ocean-crossing-to-save-endangered-turtles/ https://www.goodthingsguy.com/environment/brave-swimmers-take-on-icy-ocean-crossing-to-save-endangered-turtles/#respond Thu, 26 Mar 2026 14:30:03 +0000 https://www.goodthingsguy.com/?p=181909

A group of swimmers are set to plunge into the chilly Atlantic to swim 11km from Robben Island to Granger Bay, all in a mission to protect endangered turtles.  ...

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A group of swimmers are set to plunge into the chilly Atlantic to swim 11km from Robben Island to Granger Bay, all in a mission to protect endangered turtles.

 

Cape Town, South Africa (26 March 2026) – A courageous team of open-water swimmers will embark on an extraordinary adventure between 14 and 28 April, braving the chilly seas from Robben Island to Granger Bay, all in a remarkable effort to protect endangered sea turtles.

Granger Bay carries powerful meaning as the chosen destination. It will soon become home to the Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation’s state-of-the-art Turtle Conservation Centre, located within the vibrant V&A Waterfront’s Granger Bay development.

“The new Turtle Conservation Centre will significantly expand our ability to rescue, rehabilitate, and release sea turtles,” says Talitha Noble-Trull, Conservation Manager at the Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation.

“It will also create an opportunity for the public to engage more deeply with conservation and understand the journey these animals take back to the wild.”

Connected by their love for the ocean and commitment to protecting its most vulnerable inhabitants, the team of swimmers will be diving into the Atlantic to raise funds for the Foundation’s current Turtle Conservation Centre.

Turtle Conservation Centre began as a small rehabilitation effort and over the past three decades has grown into a recognised programme that has successfully rescued, rehabilitated, and released more than 1,300 turtles.

This work is made possible by a team of 10 full-time staff, supported by around 90 volunteers and more than 2,000 members of the Turtle Rescue Network, which spans South Africa’s coastline. The support of donors and partners also plays a vital role in the impact of the facility.

The odds are stacked against turtles from the very beginning of their lives, with only one or two out of every 1,000 hatchlings surviving to adulthood. Every hatchling rescued is a life saved. Each year, hundreds of these tiny turtles wash ashore along the Cape coast, cold, emaciated, and exhausted. As South Africa’s go-to facility for stranded turtles, the Turtle Conservation Centre plays a critical role in nursing hatchlings back to health after stranding caused by cold stunning.

The Centre also cares for subadult and adult turtles, where each successful release represents a profound, long-term contribution to species survival. These turtles have the chance to lay eggs of their own, helping to secure the future of their endangered species.

Thanks to these dedicated conservation efforts, hundreds get a second chance every year, and now you can be part of that story.

You can donate towards the upcoming fundraising swim and share a message of encouragement, and ultimately be part of something bigger: giving more turtles a fighting chance!

Photo Credit: Sacha Specker

Sources: Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation
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Do you have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook and Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes and hear their incredible stories:

Or catch an episode of Good Things with Brent Lindeque or our Weekly Top 5 below. The videos here are always changing, updated with the latest episodes from these two shows. Both are part of Good Things TV, created to bring South Africans balance at a time when the news can feel overwhelmingly negative. Our goal is simple: to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in our country – and to leave you feeling a little more proudly South African. 

 

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‘Otter’ Chaos in Cape Town as Rescue Unfolds in Sea Point! https://www.goodthingsguy.com/environment/otter-chaos-sea-point/ https://www.goodthingsguy.com/environment/otter-chaos-sea-point/#respond Thu, 12 Mar 2026 06:30:27 +0000 https://www.goodthingsguy.com/?p=180153

An otter has been released safely after a scary dash through Sea Point’s busy streets.   Cape Town, South Africa (12 March 2026) – The otter first popped up, some...

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An otter has been released safely after a scary dash through Sea Point’s busy streets.

 

Cape Town, South Africa (12 March 2026) – The otter first popped up, some residents suspect, through a storm drain on High Level Road in Sea Point, when the SPCID was alerted.

A lively chase ensued when the animal, understandably confused and frightened, tried to escape attempts by authorities, who were working together to keep the animal out of harm’s way and out of the busy roads.

“Earlier today an otter was spotted wandering along High Level Road. The SPCID team quickly alerted the SPCA and CapeNature, who responded swiftly to assist with the rescue.” shared the SPCID. “The otter, however, clearly had other plans and gave everyone involved quite the run for their money, darting off and refusing to cooperate as teams attempted to safely capture it for relocation to a more suitable environment.”

With authorities wielding nets, the rescue became quite a spectacle as they worked to guide the frightened animal away from traffic and toward safety.

“With support from local Law Enforcement Officers and the SPCID team on the ground, the operation became a real community effort to ensure the animal’s safety.”

Thanks to the SPCID, SPCA, CapeNature and law enforcement, the otter was released in a safe and more natural habitat.

“It’s not every day that an otter decides to take a stroll through Sea Point, but moments like this remind us just how unique our neighbourhood is, where urban life and wildlife occasionally cross paths.”

Otters in Cape Town are actually more common than many people realise…

The species spotted in Sea Point was almost certainly a Cape clawless otter, Africa’s largest otter species and one that has adapted to living alongside people in parts of Cape Town, particularly around the city’s canals, rivers and wetlands.

In fact, Cape Town has its own growing population of so-called ‘urban otters’. They have become particularly well known at the V&A Waterfront, where a small family has lived in the canals and waterways since 2018. During the pandemic, nature took over like it did in many parts of the world, and otters established several territories along the waterways.

“Otters have been in the Waterfront since 2018 when one took residence under a jetty in the canals. During the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, when much activity on the Waterfront shut down, the otters established several territories in the absence of human activity. The Cape clawless otter population in the Waterfront now comprises a small family.” shares the Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation. (TOA)

The TOA subsequently launched the Urban Otter Project in 2022 to monitor the otters, study their behaviour and guide inevitable encounters between otters and people. The V&A’s otters have their own ‘chaperones’ who make sure that interactions between otters and dog walkers, kayakers, residents, and tourists are kept under control.

The species is listed as Near Threatened and faces threats that include habitat degradation, water pollution, poaching and encounters with domestic animals. Organisations like TOA and The Owl Rescue Centre are working to protect them.

If you ever encounter an otter, the best approach is to give it space. Back away slowly and allow the animal a clear path to move off. If it appears injured, distressed or stuck, residents should contact the Cape of Good Hope SPCA Wildlife Unit or CapeNature, who are authorised to intervene and assist. If you are lucky enough to spot one in the wild, sightings can also be reported to the Two Oceans Aquarium to help researchers track the city’s growing otter population.


Sources: Linked above.
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Or catch an episode of Good Things with Brent Lindeque or our Weekly Top 5 below. The videos here are always changing, updated with the latest episodes from these two shows. Both are part of Good Things TV, created to bring South Africans balance at a time when the news can feel overwhelmingly negative. Our goal is simple: to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in our country – and to leave you feeling a little more proudly South African. 

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SPAR Helps Little Aquarium Heroes Make a Big Recovery https://www.goodthingsguy.com/environment/spar-turtle-adoption/ https://www.goodthingsguy.com/environment/spar-turtle-adoption/#respond Mon, 15 Dec 2025 13:42:23 +0000 https://www.goodthingsguy.com/?p=171779

From rescue to release, twelve turtle hatchlings are getting a second chance at life thanks to SPAR and the Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation’s Adopt a Turtle Hatchling programme.   Cape...

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From rescue to release, twelve turtle hatchlings are getting a second chance at life thanks to SPAR and the Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation’s Adopt a Turtle Hatchling programme.

 

Cape Town, South Africa (15 December 2025) – There is something quietly hopeful about a rescued turtle hatchling. Fragile, palm-sized and completely unaware of the journey ahead, each one carries the instinct to return to the ocean one day.

That sense of hope was felt recently when 12 stranded loggerhead turtle hatchlings were adopted through the Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation’s Adopt a Turtle Hatchling programme, giving each of them the care and support they need to recover and grow strong enough for life at sea. Retailers from SPAR Western Cape and Namibia heeded a call from the Two Oceans Aquarium, adopting the turtle hatchlings in honour of their communities.

Every year, the Turtle Conservation Centre receives turtle hatchlings that wash ashore along South Africa’s coastline, often cold, injured or exhausted. Without intervention, many would not survive. The adoption programme plays a vital role in covering the daily operational costs and the specialised rehabilitation required to give these vulnerable animals a second chance.

What makes the programme especially meaningful is the connection it creates. Each adoption comes with naming rights for the hatchling, a certificate, a photograph and detailed information about where the turtle was found and how it is progressing. Adopters receive monthly updates, including growth milestones, weights, photos and videos, following their turtle’s journey from rescue to eventual release back into the ocean.

“At SPAR we are family and community driven, so it’s wonderful to be part of the Aquarium Foundation’s Turtle Conservation Centre through this ‘Adopt a Turtle’ initiative,” said Elsabe van Zyl, Sponsorship and Events Manager for SPAR Western Cape and Namibia. “They do amazing work for our city, and its communities, educating and looking after the conservation of our threatened sea turtle species.”

For the Foundation, every adoption directly supports a species under threat.

“All species of sea turtles are threatened, so efforts to rehabilitate every single one of the stranded turtles rescued by members of the public and brought to us is critical to their survival,” said Ronnis Daniels, Stakeholder and Company Engagement Manager at the Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation. “With the support of adopters, the team at our Turtle Conservation Centre is able to give rescued hatchlings a second chance at life in the ocean.”

For the adoptive ‘parents’, the hope is universal. That these tiny turtles will grow stronger, return safely to their natural habitat, and one day navigate the vast oceans they were born to roam.

Until then, their journey will be followed with care, curiosity and no small amount of excitement, a reminder that sometimes, protecting the future starts with something very, very small.


Sources: Supplied 
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Do you have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook and Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes and hear their incredible stories:

Or catch an episode of Good Things with Brent Lindeque or our Weekly Top 5 below. The videos here are always changing, updated with the latest episodes from these two shows. Both are part of Good Things TV, created to bring South Africans balance at a time when the news can feel overwhelmingly negative. Our goal is simple: to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in our country – and to leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

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Bakkies the Elephant Seal Hauls Out in Betty’s Bay! https://www.goodthingsguy.com/environment/bakkies-elephant-seal-hauls-bettys-bay/ https://www.goodthingsguy.com/environment/bakkies-elephant-seal-hauls-bettys-bay/#respond Tue, 25 Nov 2025 07:30:04 +0000 https://www.goodthingsguy.com/?p=169732

A young southern elephant seal has made himself at home along SA’s coastline, and locals have been doing exactly what’s needed to keep him safe and undisturbed.   Western Cape,...

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A young southern elephant seal has made himself at home along SA’s coastline, and locals have been doing exactly what’s needed to keep him safe and undisturbed.

 

Western Cape, South Africa (25 November 2025) – Bakkies, the southern elephant seal, was first confirmed revisiting our shores by the South African Polar Research Infrastructure and Two Oceans Aquarium’s Marine Wildlife Management team after hauling out at Onrus Beach in early October.

He was originally tagged at Bakoven in December 2024 and was last seen around Mouille Point in April this year.

From Onrus, Bakkies has reportedly moved along the coast, next appearing on Silversands Beach in Betty’s Bay, where volunteers from the Betty’s Bay Conservancy stepped in to put up a boundary so dogs and beachgoers didn’t accidentally stumble into him. Elephant seals really can look like part of the sand until you’re right on top of them.

What is Bakkies doing on SA’s shores?

He is simply here to rest and moult, something elephant seals need to do on land for a few weeks each year. It’s a slow and exhausting process, and they conserve every bit of energy they can. The quieter the surroundings, the better.

After his stop at Silversands, he shifted to Sandbaai, where he was last reported to be settling into a proper routine of sleeping, stretching and barely moving at all. According to Pete Oxford, a member of the Betty’s Bay Conservancy, Bakkies has had almost no disturbance. People have stayed behind the barrier, dogs have been leashed, and visitors have given him the space he needs.

At this time, the South Africa National Stranding Network, in collaboration with the South African Polar Research Infrastructure, contacted a locum vet in Kleinmond, Dr Johan Duminy, who was sent to assist with Bakkies’ vaccinations against rabies.

Southern elephant seals are occasional visitors. The nearest colony is on Marion Island, far south of Cape Town, so seeing one is a special moment for anyone who passes by. But it only works when humans keep their distance.

Conservation teams are asking locals and holidaymakers to continue doing what they’ve been doing so well.

Give him space, keep noise down, leash dogs, and keep your eyes open.

If he moves again, or if anyone spots him somewhere new, sightings can be reported to the Marine Wildlife Management team at the Two Oceans Aquarium (021 418 3823).


Sources: Linked above
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Or catch an episode of Good Things with Brent Lindeque or our Weekly Top 5 below. The videos here are always changing, updated with the latest episodes from these two shows. Both are part of Good Things TV, created to bring South Africans balance at a time when the news can feel overwhelmingly negative. Our goal is simple: to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in our country – and to leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

 

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Two Oceans Aquarium Turns 30 Today! https://www.goodthingsguy.com/environment/two-oceans-aquarium-turns-30-today/ https://www.goodthingsguy.com/environment/two-oceans-aquarium-turns-30-today/#respond Thu, 13 Nov 2025 10:00:31 +0000 https://www.goodthingsguy.com/?p=168630

The aquarium is celebrating 30 years of conservation and education around one of the most fascinating features of our world – the ocean!   Cape Town, South Africa (13 November...

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The aquarium is celebrating 30 years of conservation and education around one of the most fascinating features of our world – the ocean!

 

Cape Town, South Africa (13 November 2025) — Many of us (especially in Cape Town and surrounds) have walked through those glass tunnels at least once before. Perhaps as a child, excitedly wanting to see everything at once, or years later with your own kiddies.

It’s where we first saw penguins, jellyfish and turtles. Where we marvelled at a ragged-tooth shark, or realised, usually with our noses pressed to the glass, that the ocean is an entire world on its own. A fascinating one that must be protected.

Two Ocean Aquarium’s commitment to helping people notice the ocean has shaped almost everything they’ve done for three decades. They’ve educated, played an active role in conservation, and connected communities with the sea.

“It is incredible to think that the Two Oceans Aquarium is a quarter of a century old. It has grown into a much-loved and well-respected facility with conservation, education and research at its heart. We have many achievements to celebrate and these achievements have been made possible by our visitors, our members who have chosen to become part of the Aquarium family, our partners who have assisted us in growing the Aquarium’s reputation locally and internationally, and our staff and volunteers who have dedicated themselves to saving the ocean. Thank you for all your support over the years and we look forward to even greater achievements in the next 25 years,” shares Michael Farquhar, CEO of the Two Oceans Aquarium.

From the start, the aquarium chose to showcase the marine life that actually lives off the southern African coast. That decision shaped what followed. If people could see what’s truly here, they might care more about protecting it.

In 2018, the Aquarium formalised the work many visitors never see by creating the Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation. Through it, they’ve taught thousands of learners marine science, rehabilitated injured and stranded sea turtles, and helped manage Cape Town’s coastline through everyday conservation work.

Somewhere along the way, it also became one of those local institutions that families grow up alongside.

“The Aquarium is many different things to many different people, which makes marketing and operations both a supreme joy and a challenge. On the one hand, we are a familiar, loved and trusted space for local families – as exhibited by our large annual membership base. On the other hand, we are seen as a world-class tourist attraction known for its values and educational messaging. In between, we are a place where you can scuba dive, receive a classroom lesson, see a puppet show, watch live music or attend a corporate function. Above all, our goal is that every single person who visits the Aquarium, leaves with more love and respect for our life-giving ocean,” shares Ingrid Sinclair, Marketing Manager of the Two Oceans Aquarium.

Today they’re celebrating a huge milestone. Mascots will be running around. Visitors can join in for feeding time. There’s going to be special puppet shows for kids, and the team will do a special birthday banner dive (we’ll share it here, later on).

Here’s to 30 years of showing us why the ocean matters and why it’s worth protecting!


Sources: Linked above
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Do you have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook and Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes and hear their incredible stories:

Or catch an episode of Good Things with Brent Lindeque or our Weekly Top 5 below. The videos here are always changing, updated with the latest episodes from these two shows. Both are part of Good Things TV, created to bring South Africans balance at a time when the news can feel overwhelmingly negative. Our goal is simple: to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in our country – and to leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

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How the Two Oceans Aquarium Keeps Its Kelp Forest Thriving https://www.goodthingsguy.com/environment/kelp-forest-toa/ https://www.goodthingsguy.com/environment/kelp-forest-toa/#respond Tue, 04 Nov 2025 08:00:10 +0000 https://www.goodthingsguy.com/?p=167463

Behind the beauty of the Two Oceans Aquarium’s kelp forest lies a dedicated team of divers and aquarists whose careful planning and teamwork ensure that every strand of kelp thrives...

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Behind the beauty of the Two Oceans Aquarium’s kelp forest lies a dedicated team of divers and aquarists whose careful planning and teamwork ensure that every strand of kelp thrives long after it’s brought ashore.

 

Cape Town, South Africa (03 November 2025) – Before visitors even step into the Two Oceans Aquarium to admire the beautiful kelp forest exhibit, there’s already a lot of work happening behind the scenes to keep it healthy and alive.

It all starts with a small team of divers heading out to sea to collect fresh kelp. It’s a task that requires patience and teamwork. Once the kelp is collected, the divers make sure it’s safely secured on the boat and kept moist throughout the trip. This helps protect it from damage and ensures that it arrives back at the aquarium in the best possible condition.

Once they are back on land, the work does not stop there. Senior aquarist Simon Brill and collection officer Matthew Radford lead the next step. Carefully transferring the kelp from the boat into the kelp forest exhibit. The process takes several hands, from calling in available aquarists over the radio to gently carrying and lifting the kelp into the hoist box that moves it to the top of the exhibit.

It is a massive team effort that relies on planning and coordination. Every person involved plays a key role in making sure the kelp settles safely into its new home, helping to maintain one of the aquarium’s most loved and iconic displays.

To see how the whole process comes together, you can watch the full behind-the-scenes video on the Two Oceans Aquarium YouTube channel.


Sources: Two Oceans Aquarium 
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Do you have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook & Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes & hear their incredible stories:

Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

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