Caregiving is a quality inherent in every member of the uShaka Sea World team, who are kept busy during the daylight hours guiding and assisting hundreds of visitors who pass through the facility, in addition to taking care of the hundreds of marine species the visitors have come to see.
Under cover of darkness, on very special occasions, their dedication continues in a uniquely rewarding way.
One such occasion took place in March 2014, when uShaka Sea World hosted 18 children who suffer from xeroderma pigmentosum (XP), a rare, recessive genetic disorder that renders the body unable to repair damage caused by ultraviolet light.
Children with XP experience severe sunburn even after brief exposure to the sun, which leads to changes in their skin and causes eye damage, which means they are never able to enjoy normal daylight activities. This enforced lifestyle has earned them the name "Children of the Night".
Most of the children and their parents had never seen a marine animal before, which made their first sighting and face-to-face interaction with a dolphin a little overwhelming.
Having made friends with the dolphins, they moved on to touching, smelling and feeling a seal – a new experience not only for the children, but for the seals too, as this was their first night show.
An impromptu dormitory was set up for the children among the shark and fish exhibits, and in the morning they were treated to breakfast and indoor fun at uShaka Kids’ World before moving on to their next destination.
uShaka Sea World’s communications and logistics spokesperson, Ann Kunz says, “The uShaka Sea World team was honoured to be able to create a magical night for these brave little people, and their phenomenal parents and caregivers.”
There are about 1 000 known cases of XP worldwide, including 20 cases in Southern Africa.
Read the original blog here.