FELA: Friends of the East London Aquarium

09/09/2026

07/09/2026

🐋LEARNING WITH LEA:

Every second breath you take comes from the ocean, and whales help make it possible 💨

The whale pump is one of nature's most remarkable nutrient transport systems. Whales feed at depth and return to the surface to breathe. Near the surface, they release nutrient-rich f***s containing iron, nitrogen, and phosphorus.

These nutrients fertilize phytoplankton, microscopic marine organisms that absorb about one-third of the carbon dioxide captured by Earth each year and produce roughly half of the oxygen in our atmosphere.

By recycling nutrients through the ocean, whales help support productive marine ecosystems and the phytoplankton that sustain life on Earth.

Healthy whale populations contribute to a healthier ocean, and a healthier planet. 🌍

University of Pretoria Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of Pretoria Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria Mammal Research Institute

04/09/2026

12/07/2026

28/06/2026

Please note that our penguins are in good condition, we regularly, at the end of the day, empty out their swimming area and refill it in the morning. This gives us the opportunity to give them clean water. We have a side pool which always has water in and they never, at any time, have an enclosure without water in. It is only the main pool that has a regular cleaning process. The penguins enjoy the open space and choose to go into the empty pool and run around in it and then climb out when they are ready to. There is an access ramp, which they all know about and can do so easily and safely.
Penguins will lie down when they are tired, molting, their tummies are full or they are just sleeping. A penguin lying on its chest can look quite out of the ordinary but this is normal.
The staff check the penguins first thing in the morning, at both feedings and at the end of the day before they finish work. No penguin has been notified as ill or dead and they are all in good health.
The aquarium does have two after hours numbers on the door so if anybody has any questions, concerns or anything to report they can phone those numbers.
The numbers are 0823281121 and 0832360379.
The aquarium is committed to the health and wellbeing of their penguins.

21/06/2026

Happy Father's Day!

Email [email protected] for more information.

Feeding times are at 11.30 and 15.30 daily.

25/05/2026

Please throw your rubbish in a trash can that has a lid.