Good-hearted beachgoers save nine small yellow-billed ducklings stuck in the surf and reunite them with their mama!

Helderberg, Western Cape (21 August 2025) – This story waddled in and made us smile. At Strand Surf Lifesaving Club in Cape Town on Tuesday, a group of quick-thinking beachgoers rescued a group of ducklings from the great blue sea.

Late that evening, a gentleman named Raaid and other folks spotted the nine tiny yellow-billed ducklings tumbling in the surf, far from the safety of their mom. The little ones were cold, shivering, and not at all sure where to go.

With the sea getting rougher and no mom in sight, Raaid scooped them up and took them home for the night, tucking them in with a warm water bottle and blankets, as advised by experts called upon for help.

Farheen, Eva and Lisa, more wildlife warriors, joined in on the valiant effort to be duck heroes.

By sunrise, Raaid and Lisa (who later posted about the ordeal to Facebook) were back at the beach, ducklings in a box and hope on their side, ready to try and reunite the little family with their mom.

First, two ducklings hopped out of the box straight into the river, kicking off a wild chase as the current pulled them toward the sea. Lisa chased after them, and heavy breathing kicked in as she hurried to save them from the great big blue, again…

It was no easy feat.

“I have flu and was running in [the] water to get the ducklings out, which can run on water by the way!” she wrote. 

Luckily, she retrieved the adventurous pair, and the mission refocused on reuniting them with their mom.

Almost an hour of waiting around went by before the mother duck showed up. Lisa and fellow rescuers felt confident enough to release the babies, as mommy rallied them back to the water’s edge.

After an overnight ordeal and some epic teamwork, as well as help from the community, including advice from Helderberg Wildlife Rescue and Kogelberg Biosphere, the whole flock was finally reunited.

If you ever doubted whether small acts make a difference, just ask nine ducklings who now get to paddle alongside their mom.

Sources: Linked above
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