An opportunity for us all to do a little something that turns hope into action on Friday, in honour of one of the world’s most respected visionaries.

South Africa (02 April 2026) – On Friday the 3rd of April, the world marks the first official Jane Goodall Day, proclaimed by the Jane Goodall Institute to be celebrated annually on what would have been her birthday. It’s a date for reflection, and for action.

Jane Goodall passed away in October 2025, at 91, peacefully in her sleep while still on the road. She died doing what she loved – sharing hope and urging people not to give up. Right until the end, she logged around 300 days of travel a year. She was abosutely extraordinary like that.

Gill Simpson, Executive Director of Wild Rescue – a registered nature reserve and animal sanctuary in the Western Cape – has been thinking about what this day means, and what Dr. Goodall leaves behind for us to hold onto.

Hope.

“In today’s world with its wars, destruction and economic gloom it’s tempting to get lost in despair and feel like our problems in society are just too large and insurmountable,” says Gill. “But Dr. Jane Goodall taught us that we have the ability to make extraordinary changes and reforms, to pull back from the brink of disaster and navigate towards a better future, and it all begins with the small everyday acts and choices made by every individual on the planet.”

That was always her message, and that’s what Jane Goodall Day is about.

People often tell themselves the story that alone, their impact could never be great enough. That just isn’t so. If we all chose to bring a little bit of light into the world, in small ways, it would be a better place. Your ‘little light’ might look like a litter clean-up, a tree planted, a meal that’s plant-based. A kind act extended to someone who needs it. All of it makes a difference.

The Institute is inviting people worldwide to mark the day in whatever way is accessible and meaningful to them, and to share it under #JaneGoodallDay.

“You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. Every individual matters. Every individual has a role to play. Every individual makes a difference through the cumulative effect of small ethical actions.” once said Goodall.

One of Jane’s most enduring gifts she left to the world is her four pillars of hope. It’s the framework through which she understood people, nature, and the possibility of a better future for all.

The first pillar is the resilience of nature. Land recovers. Soils regenerate. Species return. If given the space and the care, ecosystems can and do come back. That is hopeful.

The second is the power of the human mind. The same intellect that drove industrialisation, pollution and habitat loss is also capable of the ingenuity that reverses it.

“Wisdom involves using our powerful intellect to recognize the consequences of our actions and to think of the well-being of the whole,” Dr. Goodall once said.

The third pillar is the energy of young people. Dr. Goodall’s Roots & Shoots programme, now active across more than 62 countries and 12,000 groups since 1991, is proof of what happens when young people are trusted with real problems and given a platform. South Africa is part of that network. It matters.

And lastly, the indomitable human spirit. History is full of people who kept going when the odds were impossible. That persistence and refusal to stop is something Dr. Goodall practiced until her very last day.

“We cannot give up. We all have the power to uphold her remarkable mission and Dr. Goodall’s four reasons for hope remains one of her greatest legacies.” says Gill.

Dr. Goodall was careful to say that hope isn’t passive. It’s not wishful thinking. The world needs to be reminded of that.

“Hope is often misunderstood. People tend to think that it is simply passive wishful thinking: I hope something will happen but I’m not going to do anything about it. This is indeed the opposite of real hope, which requires action and engagement. Hope is what enables us to keep going in the face of adversity. It is what we desire to happen, but we must be prepared to work hard to make it so. Hope does not deny all the difficulty and all the danger that exists, but it is not stopped by them.”

Emily Dickinson once wrote that hope is the thing with feathers, the thing that perches on the soul and never stops singing. Dr. Goodall would have agreed with the sentiment, but she would have added – ‘and then it gets up and does something about it!’

This Friday, wherever you are, there is something small you can do. What will it be?

Sources: Wild Rescue.

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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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A visiting hiker from Durban was safely airlifted off Lion’s Head after an ankle injury, as rescue teams once again showed their readiness to respond to those in danger.

Cape Town, South Africa (01 April 2026) – A Sunday hike on Lion’s Head took an unexpected turn when a visiting hiker from Durban needed to be rescued after injuring his ankle on the trail. What started as a routine outdoor adventure quickly became a situation requiring urgent assistance.

The 47-year-old slipped near the top ladder section while making his way down. Although he tried to continue, the injury made it impossible to go any further, prompting a call for help as conditions on that section can be tricky to navigate.

That’s when teams from Wilderness Search and Rescue stepped in, quickly responding with support from the Air Mercy Service rescue helicopter. Their rapid response ensured that the situation was brought under control as quickly and safely as possible.

In a smooth and well-coordinated operation, the hiker was safely hoisted off the mountain and flown to a nearby landing zone for further care.

Set against the backdrop of Table Mountain, the rescue once again highlighted the dedication of these teams, who are always ready to respond, often at a moment’s notice, to assist those in need, no matter the terrain or conditions.

Made up of a network of professionals and volunteers, the rescue teams continue to go above and beyond to ensure that hikers and outdoor enthusiasts can explore with a little more peace of mind, knowing help is never too far away.

A gentle reminder for hikers to take care on the trails and to always have emergency numbers saved, just in case.

Sources: Wilderness Search and Rescue WSAR Western Cape 

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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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This video will fix whatever is wrong with your day. You’re welcome!

Nelspruit, South Africa (31 March 2026) – The newest (and perhaps muddiest) member of the Care for Wild Rhino Sanctuary family has us smiling from ear to ear.

At just over three weeks old, a tiny white rhino calf is already making a big splash. In an adorable video shared by the sanctuary this week, the little bull is captured discovering the absolute joy of a good old-fashioned mud wallow.

“Rose’s baby, now just over 3 weeks old, is already enjoying the delights of a mud wallow. His mom took him to the shallow end, but he made sure to fully immerse himself, rolling onto his side, coating his face, and learning not to inhale the mud and water.” the sanctuary shares. 

While the calf practiced his ‘mud-bath’ skills, his mama, Rose, took the opportunity for a well-deserved break. Being a rhino mom is tough work.

“Meanwhile, Rose rested quietly next to him, enjoying a few moments of peace and quiet while her little boy kept himself entertained for quite a while, as rangers watched in awe close by… How amazing to see such confidence in such a young calf just because Mom is nearby!”

This playful moment is even more special when you know Rose’s history from heartbreak to hope.

“Rose was rescued in 2017 after poachers shot and fatally injured her mother. Left orphaned and alone, she was fortunately found in time by rescuers and brought to Care for Wild. Here, she began her long journey of rehabilitation and grew up alongside fellow orphans…”

Rose is no longer an orphan in need of a mom, but now a mama herself, raising the next generation in a protected space! It’s a beautiful reminder that even after tragedy, there is space for hope, healing, and lots of mud!

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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Care for Wild Rhino Sanctuary is celebrating a special arrival, as a white rhino calf was born on the reserve!

Nelspruit, South Africa (31 March 2026) – The world’s largest orphaned rhino sanctuary has welcomed the birth of a little white rhino calf. The calf marks a milestone as the 33rd birth at the Care for Wild Rhino Sanctuary.

The calf’s mother, Robyn, joined the sanctuary over a decade ago, traumatised, alone and vulnerable, after she had lost her mother to poaching.

“Robyn’s story began back in 2014. After her mother was killed by poachers in the Kruger National Park, she was rescued and brought to Care for Wild.” shares the organisation.

Robyn was raised and cared for at the sanctuary before entering the rewilding and release program.

“Now, at just over 12 years old, she has become a mother for the first time…We are so so proud of her.” shares Care for Wild Rhino.

The organisation specialises in the rescue, rehabilitation, rewilding, and ongoing protection of rhinos. It works toward a future where viable, free-ranging populations of black and white rhinos thrive within protected, vibrant ecosystems.

“We are once again incredibly humbled to welcome another white rhino calf into the world. This marks the 33rd birth at Care for Wild Rhino Sanctuary, a truly monumental milestone. Every single rhino life is so precious in the fight to save the species.” shares Care for Wild Rhino.

Robyn’s little one joins two young orphaned rhino calves who were rescued after being found alone in the Kruger National Park, believed to have lost their mothers to poaching. Estimated to be around 12 to 14 months old, the pair had stuck together for protection before a coordinated rescue effort saw them safely airlifted to Care for Wild, where they’re now recovering under close watch.

While some calves arrive carrying the trauma of loss, others, like the newborn, represent what’s possible when rescue, rehabilitation and protection come together. Even in the face of ongoing threats, there is still space for hope and for rhinos to simply be rhinos again!

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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Micro Plastics are not food, and yet tiny turtles wash up each year with little tummies loaded with micro plastics. The TOA Foundation has come up with a clever way to show children just how much plastic is in our ocean.

Cape Town, South Africa (30 March 2026) – April marks the start of turtle hatchling season. Every year, tiny little turtles start their journey into the big wide ocean, ready to face the odds and grow into a beautiful, ancient creature. But the weather, the environment and the pollution can often stop this process in its tracks. The Two Oceans Aquarium (TOA) Foundation’s Turtle Rescue Network collect any hatchlings known as strandings and take them into the care of the capable team of specialist volunteers and aquarium staff.

So many of these hatchlings wash up on the Western Cape coastlines because when they are born on the Northern Beaches in KwaZulu-Natal, they make their way into the ocean and towards the warm Agulhas current.

If a hatchling is lucky, it will be carried by the Agulhas Current as it turns east off the coast of the Western Cape and out into the warm Indian Ocean. Unfortunately, this isn’t easy for the tiny hatchlings, and many of them are ejected from the Agulhas Current into the cold water of the Atlantic. This water is too cold for these hatchlings to survive. They get gradually weaker and weaker as they try to return to the Agulhas – an effort that is made increasingly difficult in bad weather, barnacles taking over the little body or if the turtle has been harmed by ingesting plastic pollution.

Micro plastics which are very prominant in the ocean, are often confused for kelp and other delicious morsels. The more plastic ingested, the sicker the hatchling becomes. It prevents them from digesting real food, making them weak and leads to stranding.

To marry the idea that micro plastics make turtle hatchlings sick, the team came up with an clever educational tool which helps learners understand just how deteremental plastic pollution is.

The team have tiny turtles (modelled on the very real ones they have rescued) and accompanying these turtles, a little plastic container filled with all the micro plastics ingested by that turtle. The exercise gives learners a hands on experience, seeing how such a tiny turtle, can have so much micro plastic in its system.

The picture changes when one can hold the evidence within their hands. The Two Oceans Aquarium (TOA) Foundation is committed to education. The team host multiple programmes to empower and educate youth.

Take a look at the simple, yet powerful way learners get hands on.

We can all make a difference. Start by changing how you shop, take part in cleanups at your nearest beach, seperate your recycling at home and place it in clearly marked bags so teams understand which items can be recycled. Reducing one’s reliance on plastic is the greatest way to make a difference!

Sources: TOA Foundation 

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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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It’s a good season to be a Cape Gannet on Bird Island!

Lambert’s Bay, South Africa (27 March 2026) – It’s like looking at a cloud of white wings. That’s how sublime Bird Island becomes in the breeding season.

Around 43,000 Cape Gannets have made the island their home this year. A thriving colony of this size is a reason to celebrate, as the Cape Gannet is listed as Endangered on the global IUCN Red List. Two steps away from extinction in the wild.

Over the past years, the Bird Island colony held steady in the 30,000s. Between last year and this season, numbers have pushed well into the 40,000s. The jump is significant enough to suggest that gannets from other colonies are actively choosing Bird Island as their preferred place to breed.

It hasn’t always looked so hopeful. Just over a decade ago, the entire colony abandoned the island almost overnight after on-land seal predation made it too dangerous. Every single gannet left. The team at CapeNature refused to give up. They implemented predator management measures and, in one of the more creative conservation interventions you’ll ever hear about, used bird decoys to lure the gannets back!!

It worked. The colony slowly rebuilt and today it’s thriving again. In fact, early signs suggest this could be one of the strongest fledging seasons in several years. So far, 7647 young birds have been recorded and there are still several weeks of the season to go.

Gannet fledging is one of nature’s most spectacular events. Young birds leave the safety of the colony to embark on a two to three-year ocean-wide journey, returning only once they are ready to breed. Every fledgling leaving Bird Island right now is heading off on that extraordinary solo voyage…

In an effort to track them and understand their movements, rangers have ringed 750 chicks and 250 adult birds in partnership with the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment. This will bring vital data to national seabird research.

The busy breeding season is good news for the gannets, but also for the ocean!

“This kind of sustained occupancy is a positive sign for the species and for the marine environment that supports them,” says Dr Ashley Naidoo, CEO of CapeNature. “Large, stable gannet colonies like the one on Bird Island are important indicators of ocean health along the West Coast. These seabirds rely on healthy marine ecosystems for their nutrition and breeding success, so when we see them in large numbers, it reflects a positive conservation outcome.”

The island hosts Cape, Crowned and White-breasted Cormorants, Common and Greater Crested Terns, Hartlaub’s and Kelp Gulls and, adding a touch of personality, a moulting penguin has taken up temporary residence within the gannet colony.

Bird Island has also updated its interpretive signage, which now gives visitors richer context about the island’s inhabitants, its history, and why seabird colonies matter to the broader marine ecosystem. It is a wonderful stop to make along the West Coast – now especially!

Sources: CapeNature.

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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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They made room for one more…

Limpopo, South Africa (26 March 2026) – The Rhino Orphanage (TRO) recently welcomed an unexpected new arrival. Not a rhino this time, but a month-old sable calf who needed a family just as much.

The team was called in after the little bull appeared weak, and struggling to nurse.

“The baby was weak, dehydrated and didn’t seem to drink from its mother. The property owner and attending vet Dr Ben Uys, assessed and thought that moms milk may have dried up. They were also concerned about his left eye.” TRO shared.

When he arrived at TRO in Limpopo, a clinical examination confirmed that the calf had been fighting considerable pain.

“It was discovered that the little guy had a very bad, painful cut in his mouth, a swollen lower lip and an ulcer in his left eye.”

The ‘baby’ sable was treated for pain, given antibiotics and received eye treatment. Thankfully after 24 hours of trying, he started suckling and is looking better already.

And so, the crash made room for one more.

While the name might lead you to believe the orphanage only welcomes rhinos, there happen to be a number of other residents, including goats and lambs, at TRO. They are brought in to comfort and companion the calves who are too small to be around bigger rhinos but too fragile to be alone.

TRO’s work follows four careful stages of rescue, raising, rehabilitating, releasing. Each is a step toward giving orphaned rhinos a chance to return to the wild where they belong.

The sable calf is doing well. He’s in good hands, and rare company!

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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The new mural joins two existing pieces created to bring more awareness to wildlife that has the right-of-way in Dana Bay!

Garden Route, South Africa (25 March 2026) – A brand new mural has gone up at the Government Health Clinic on the corner of Distans Street and Comosa Street in Dana Bay, celebrating nine bird species that are endemic and commonly found in the region.

Dana Bay is a legally recognised conservancy where the community commits to protecting and living in harmony with the environment. Its coastal and limestone fynbos support among the highest numbers of endemic species in the entire Cape floristic region!

Bush buck, steenbok, mongooses and Cape francolins all roam freely there, sharing nature’s abundance with prolific bird life.

The new mural – third in an ongoing series – was commissioned by the Dana Bay Conservancy to celebrate and bring awareness to this natural world.

“This is the third mural commissioned to create awareness to the residents, visitors, holidaymakers, and contractors that this is a conservancy where our wildlife have right-of-way.” shares Erika Van Der Westhuizen, Chairperson of the conservancy. “And, that our community should be the custodians to protect and conserve our natural world in Dana Bay.”

Local artist Jacques Schutte from Arts Busted painted the piece, marking his first full mural beyond the still life and landscape paintings he usually creates with oil paint on canvas.

The artwork depicts nine endemic and common bird species found in the region, including the Spotted Eagle Owl, Jackal Buzzard, Burchell’s Coucal, Cape Sugarbird, Cape White-Eye, Helmeted Guineafowl, Brown-hooded Kingfisher, Cape Robin-chat, and Southern Double-collared Sunbird.

The third mural joins two existing artworks in the same series. The first was painted on Flora Road, of a mountain landscape highlighting our beautiful indigenous proteas.

The second on Malva Road shines the light on Dana Bay’s endemic fauna in a colourful seascape.

There’s already a fourth mural in the planning, celebrating whales!

Sources: GTG Interview.

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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. 

The post New Mural Shines the Light on the Endemic Birds of Dana Bay! appeared first on Good Things Guy.

To put 81,000 hectares in perspective…that’s roughly 114,000 soccer fields of precious biodiversity now under formal protection!

Cape Town, South Africa (24 March 2026) – Between April 2025 and March 2026, CapeNature and the Western Cape Government formally declared 24 new nature reserves across the province, adding over 81,715 hectares to South Africa’s protected area network in one single year!

That’s the equivalent of more than 114,000 soccer fields of fynbos, renosterveld, mountain and karoo landscapes that now have formal, legal protection.

Two of the reserves, Anysberg and Knersvlakte, are CapeNature-managed expansions. The rest are privately owned, brought into the protected area network through CapeNature’s Biodiversity Stewardship Programme, which allows landowners to voluntarily declare their properties as nature reserves.

The Cape Floristic Region is one of the most beautifully diverse places on Earth. In fact, it’s one of only 36 recognised global biodiversity hotspots. Our Cape Floral Kingdom is home to thousands of plant species that can’t be found anywhere else on Earth! Sadly, many of them under pressure from habitat loss, invasive species and climate change.

Formal protection doesn’t solve those problems directly but it gives the land a chance to fight back.

“These hotspots are regions that have high levels of biodiversity, but that are also the most threatened reservoirs of plant and animal life on earth. Healthy and resilient ecosystems are essential to sustain livelihoods and economic growth and must be actively protected, managed, and restored.” said Anton Bredell, Western Cape Provincial Minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning.

The new reserves cover a wide spread of the Western Cape from the Cederberg and Agulhas Plain to the Garden Route and Little Karoo. They range in size from just under 11 hectares to more than 34,000 hectares.

The expanded Knersvlakte Nature Reserve alone accounts for over 34,000 hectares of succulent karoo, one of the most botanically rich arid regions on the planet!

The 24 declarations made over the past year also contribute to South Africa’s commitments under the ongoing global initiative that aims to formally protect 30% of the planet’s land and oceans by 2030. Every hectare declared here counts toward that!

“Our ability to declare these additional reserves is made possible through partner organisations and landowners, working with CapeNature.” adds Bredell.

South Africa is delivering conservation wins that the world really needs. And more importantly, ordinary South Africans have become a big part of that difference.

Most of these new reserves are privately owned. Which means that individual landowners like farmers, families, and property owners made the choice to voluntarily commit their land to conservation through CapeNature’s Biodiversity Stewardship Programme. That comes with a long-term commitment and responsibility to manage protected land.

“Their commitment ensures that important natural areas receive formal protection, and together we are taking steps toward securing a healthier, more resilient environment for decades to come.” said Dr Ashley Naidoo, CEO of CapeNature

Every landowner who steps up to protect their land makes a real difference for conservation.

The 24 Newly Declared Nature Reserves

• Anysberg Nature Reserve (expansion) — 6 918.3081 ha
• Bloutoring Nature Reserve — 4 610.8996 ha
• Buffalo Valley Nature Reserve — 318.3445 ha
• Cedar Rock Nature Reserve — 9 872.7000 ha
• Cederberg Oasis Nature Reserve — 226.664 ha
• Diosma Nature Reserve — 10.7664 ha
• Doringkloof Karoo Plaas Nature Reserve — 209.2027 ha
• Franco Three Fountains — 21.4250 ha
• Fynbosstrand Nature Reserve — 425.6964 ha
• Gecko Rock Private Nature Reserve — 3 658.0296 ha
• Haarwegskloof — 547.7954 ha
• Kleiheuwel Nature Reserve — 2 724.5000 ha
• Knersvlakte Nature Reserve (expansion) — 34 084.3925 ha
• Koopmanskloof Nature Reserve — 65.5074 ha
• Lettas Kraal Nature Reserve — 6 922.6114 ha
• Machaseh Nature Reserve — 844.8371 ha
• Mount David Nature Reserve — 713.0000 ha
• Pietersrivier Nature Reserve — 1 151.2790 ha
• Puntjie Nature Reserve — 102,1145 ha
• Silflay Renosterveld Nature Reserve — 1 280.6129 ha
• Voorstekop Nature Reserve — 347.9000 ha
• Waterkloof Nature Reserve — 2 062.9245 ha
• Wilderness — 643.6419 ha
• Zebraskop Nature Reserve — 3 952.2036 ha

Keen to visit? Public access will be determined in line with each reserve’s land-use and conservation requirements. For the privately managed ones, the public is advised to contact the reserve directly.

The Biodiversity Stewardship Programme is open to landowners across the Western Cape. If you own land with conservation value, you can apply to have it formally declared as a Protected Area and nature reserve, joining the growing network of privately protected land in the province.

Want to make a difference? Reach out to CapeNature’s Stewardship Team here to begin the process of formally protecting your land.

Sources: CapeNature.

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Just when his fans thought they had said their goodbyes, the Eastern Cape’s adored heavyweight traveller, Talhado, has officially made a surprise comeback!

Jeffreys Bay, South Africa (24 March 2026) – At the beginning of the year, the shores of Gqeberha brought in a very special visitor – an adult male southern elephant seal who spent nearly three weeks hauled out in the busy harbour.

According to Bayworld Museum Marine Mammals, after moving between a few spots, he settled at the Talhado Slipway – his favourite resting place. The Talhado staff welcomed and protected him, and so he earned the name ‘Talhado’!

Many visitors worried he might be ill due to his tatty skin, but he was simply undergoing his annual catastrophic moult.

Gqeberha’s midday summer heat proved a bit much, and by mid-morning, Talhado would slip into the water to cool off – floating for hours before hauling out again in the evening. While he rotated between slipways, his favourite remained the Talhado slipway, where he was left in peace.

After a few weeks of resting, moulting, and losing significant weight, Talhado finally headed back to sea.

His adoring fans were convinced that he had left for good (or at least until next year), but Talhado had other travel stop plans.

On Saturday, the NSRI Station 37 received reports of a Southern Elephant Seal hauling out on local beaches in Jeffrey’s Bay – and lo and behold, it was Talhado!

“Many will recognise this visitor as Talhado, the same seal who spent three weeks moulting at the Talhado slipway in Port Elizabeth Harbour in January and early February. He has now made his way down the coast to Jeffreys Bay,” NSRI confirmed.

The sea rescue organisation stressed the importance of the public maintaining a safe distance from him as he is a wild animal undergoing a natural physiological process.

Residents and visitors are requested to follow these safety protocols to ensure both public safety and the animal’s welfare:

• Maintain Distance: Keep at least 10 meters away from the seal at all times.
• Control Pets: Dogs must be kept on a leash and well away from the area.
• Do Not Intervene: Do not attempt to feed him, pour water on him, or encourage him back into the surf. He is ashore because he needs to rest.
• No Harassment: Please keep noise levels down and do not crowd the animal.

The NSRI team is working closely with Bayworld to monitor his condition and requests that anyone who happens to spot the seal on local beaches, to kindly report his location to the Bayworld Stranding Hotline on 071 724 2122 or contact NSRI Station 37 on 079 916 0390.

Sources: NSRI Station 37 | Bayworld Museum Marine Mammals

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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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