Mossel Bay's first micro-chipped African penguins were released back into the wild at Beacon Point on Wednesday.
The five penguins were previously rehabilitated at the Seabird and Penguin Rehabilitation Centre in Mossel Bay.
Tersia Marais from Mossel Bay's Stranded Marine Animal Rescue Team, says these are the first penguins in Mossel Bay, to be micro-chipped.
Marais says for many years they ringed penguins prior to release by using a metal band placed on the penguin’s flipper.
She says the bands caused problems and therefore they decided to stop using them.
New technology has allowed them to insert the chips under the skin and does not have any negative effects.
Marais says they rehabilitate penguins that wash up in the area on a regular basis and will soon set another three penguins free.
