SANCCOB) has been caring for nearly 800 penguin chicks during the 2013-2014 season through their Chick Bolstering Project. Interns are needed to help with raising the penguins and a new generator is sought to supply power to the care unit. Funds to help with the purchase of a new generator are also welcome.
SANCCOB Chick Bolstering Project has roots in oil spill response
Two devastating oil spills, the Apollo Sea in 1994 and the Treasure in 2000, affected tens of thousands of African penguins. SANCCOB developed expertise in caring for these penguins during the spills and is now recognised as an international leader in oiled penguin rehabilitation. This expertise is now being used to rear at-risk penguin chicks and return them to the wild.
Despite having saved over 40,000 birds during the spills through a combination of pre-emptive capture of unoiled penguins and cleaning and rehabilitation of oiled birds, the population of this endangered species continues to decline, most likely as a result of population changes to, and commercial fishing of, key prey species. Oil affected breeding pairs also had a lower breeding success rate over a 15 year period following the two spills.
Penguins from the Chick Bolstering Project as successful as naturally reared birds
As part of the Biodiversity Management Plan for the African Penguin, the Chick Bolstering Project was initiated to help the species recover. Chicks, rescued by government agencies and research teams when they are found underweight or otherwise in distress on the colonies, are transferred to SANCCOB where they are cared for until independence, a process that can take anywhere from six weeks to three months.
Post-release monitoring of chicks rescued in previous years has shown that these birds survive in the wild as well as wild chicks. With less than 18,000 breeding pairs left in the wild, down from 36,000 pairs in 2006-2007, it is hoped that SANCCOB’s work, in conjunction with protection of feeding areas and efforts to establish new colonies near consistent food sources, will help stabilise this declining species.
For more information visit the SANCCOB website.