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SA Marine Rehabilitation and Education Centre (Samrec) animal manager Jared Harding with some of the “baby blues” that have been stranding on local beaches.

Baby blues are recently fledged penguins. The youngsters come from the African penguin colonies on Algoa Bay’s off-shore islands. They are normally “kicked out” by their parents at this age to fend for themselves, but declining fish stocks means they have been struggling to find food. Samrec co-founder Libby Sharwood said the public had been “amazing” in their rescue response. The birds will be rehabilitated and re-released, she said. Picture: MIKE HOLMES