CAPE ARGUS –
1939, March 6 & 15
The first Emperor Penguins
ever seen in Cape Town arrived aboard the German vessel Schwabenland from the
frozen South. Photographed with them is their “keeper”, Mr. E. Barkley who
hoped to deliver them to the Hamburg Zoo.
Shortly after these penguins left Cape Town, a Golden Crest Penguin was found in the Cape Docks and a home was sought for this penguin.
WHO WANTS A PENGUIN?
One of the
Golden Crest variety was found in the Cape docks by Mr. R. Charter, of the Division
of Fisheries. At first, he thought it was the penguin which “deserted” from the
American freighter West Isleta. A number of Jackass penguins were sent to the
World Fair in this ship, but one slipped away before the vessel cleared and has
not yet been found.
The penguin
is about 14 inches high and has two golden “eyebrows,” the distinctive mark of
the variety. Mr. Charter then thought the penguin might have escaped from the German
ship Schwabenland, which had on board several Emperor and Adelie penguins,
which it brought from the Antarctic and is taking to Germany. The Emperor
penguins were the first of their kind ever to be seen in Cape Town.
According to
inquiries made by Mr. Charter at the South African Museum, the Golden Crest
penguin must have come from the Antarctic where they are to be found in large
numbers. It is the only one in the Union at present.
It is
thought that the penguin
may have come in one of the whaling ships, but so far no one has come forward
to solve the solution of how this Arctic bird arrived in Cape Town docks.
Today the penguin was taken to Mr. Charter’s
home for the weekend. But he is not anxious to keep it and will gladly give it
to anyone who wants it.
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