During breeding season pelicans rear their chicks on the Guano Platform. Often the chicks falls off the platform and wash up on the beach. Those that are saved by members of the public are brought to the Pelican Rehabilitation Project who look after them and once fully grown, are encouraged to fend for themselves.

The project is situated at the Walvis Bay waterfront and this gorgeous big boy felt very comfortable walking around in the restaurants’ parking lot, waddling among the cars.

All of a sudden a bakkie drove up to the kitchen door of a restaurant. When the bakkie’s canopy door opened he raced at top speed towards it, almost colliding with the chef who’d started unloading the fish and seafood from the back. He scared the living daylights out of her and when she saw who the intruder was she burst into laughter. From clutching at her heart in terror to clutching at her stomach in mirth, it was funny to witness. Off course, this gorgeous big boy didn’t understand what the fuss was all about and hung around the car hoping for a tidbit.

I got the feeling that this wasn’t the first time he’d tried this stunt. I don’t think that’s what the rehabilitation project had in mind when they encourage the pelicans to fend for themselves!