The South African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Seabirds (SANCCOB) was established in 1968 after the Esso Essen oil spill affected local penguin populations. Oiled African penguin(Spheniscus demersus) rescue and rehabilitation has continued to be a major aspect of SANCCOB’s work.
The organization has, however, taken a more prominent role in other aspects of seabird conservation. From the African Penguin Chick Bolstering Project to hand rearing abandoned Cape gannet (Morus capensis) chicks, another local species listed as "Vulnerable" by the IUCN, SANCCOB is partnering with wildlife conservation groups to address threats to seabird colonies in southern Africa.
Oil Spills and SANCCOB’s Penguin Rehabilitation Program
In 2000, the Treasure, an iron-ore ship, sank just 20 kilometers from the penguin colony at Robben Island and 40 kilometers from the Dassen Island colony. Fuel oil leaking from the ship threatened 70,000 birds, comprising approximately 44% of the world’s African penguin population. Many other international wildlife rescue and rehabilitation organizations, as well as thousands of volunteers, aided SANCCOB in this response.
Some 19,000 oiled penguins were admitted and more than 16,000 of them were released. The oldest penguin cleaned had been oiled in 1984 on Robben Island. Its partner, also rescued during this spill, had been previously cleaned during the Apollo Sea oil spill response in 1994.
Each year since its inception the South African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Seabirds has rehabilitated an average of 1000 oiled penguins. In 2011, SANCCOB expertise in oiled penguin care was recognized internationally. Staff traveled to Tristan de Cunha to set up a rehabilitation center and train local people in the care of northern rockhopper penguins (Eudyptes moseleyi) in the aftermath of the MV Olivia oil spill.
The African Penguin Chick Bolstering Project
With African penguin populations continuing to experience serious declines it is no longer enough just to respond to oil spills. SANCCOB is an important player in the African Penguin Chick Bolstering Project, a cooperative effort involving both South African and international organizations.
On Dyer Island alone, breeding pair numbers dropped from 25,000 to 1,513 in just 30 years. Everything from guano removal, which destroyed nesting burrows, to oil spills, overfishing and climate change has impacted this penguin species. Since 2006, SANCCOB, working with the Bristol Conservation and Science Foundation and other partners have rescued and reared thousands of abandoned penguin chicks.
SANCCOB hand-rears the endangered penguin chicks for release back to the wild. They were able to achieve a 70% release rate for these penguins in the first year. The project is also looking at the reasons for the problems within the penguin colonies and ways to stem the declines.
Other Vulnerable South African Seabirds Cared for by SANCCOB
In 2010 and again in 2011, unusual weather patterns in January resulted in the loss of Cape Gannet (Morus capensis) chicks at Bird Island in Lambert’s Bay. The adult gannets rebuilt their nests but the second clutches of chicks were not yet able to fly when the adults began their normal migration.
Listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN, the Cape gannet, like the African penguin, has seen serious population declines. Four former breeding sites are no longer active. CapeNature rescued the abandoned chicks from Bird Island, bringing them to SANCCOB for handrearing.
Four species of cormorant, including the endangered bank cormorant (Phalacrocorax neglectus), white pelicans (Pelicanus onocrotalus), several gull species and the Near-threatened African black oystercatcher (Haematopus moquini) are also rescued and rehabilitated at SANCCOB’s wildlife hospital in Table View, a short drive from Cape Town. School group visits and private tours of the facility can be arranged via the SANCCOB website.
Changes in the Benguela current ecosystem, overfishing and other human activities near breeding colonies will continue to put additional stress on South African seabird populations. The SANCCOB's rescue and rehabilitation of African penguins and other local seabirds will continue to be an important aspect of wildlife conservation in the area.
Dawn M. Smith - A vet nurse, Dawn has worked in wildlife rehabilitation and conservation around the world in addition to her veterinary hospital ...
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