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A group of 12 African penguin chicks, and one determined adult, are back where they belong after the African Penguin and Seabird Sanctuary (APSS) completed another carefully coordinated release on Dyer Island.

The birds were brought in for specialised care when their parents entered their annual moult, leaving them unable to feed their young.

Following the decision made by the Dyer Island Conservation Trust and APSS teams, and CapeNature members, the small chicks were collected after they realised the young ones would not survive unless intervention took place.

Thanks to dedicated rehabilitation and feeding, the smallest chick arrived at only 970 grams and now weighs an impressive 3 kilogram.

A hopeful release

The release comes at a time when the species is facing severe pressure, as African Penguin numbers have dropped from 141,000 breeding pairs in 1956 to just 19,000 pairs, a decline of nearly 90%.

As noted by the sanctuary, this is why ‘every bird counts’ and why these rescue operations have become essential during the busy chick season.

Senior Bird Rehabilitator Xolani Lawu and veterinarian Dr Annamarie Roberts supervised the rehabilitation process, teaching the young birds to swim and preparing them for their first encounter with the ocean.

The sanctuary explained that the team ensured the birds were fully waterproof and strong enough to manage open-water conditions.

With large swells surrounding Dyer Island on release day, the team needed to rethink logistics to make sure the birds reached their colony safely and quickly.

The team decided to use Happy Feet, one of the smaller boats of Marine Dynamics usually reserved for emergencies, for this task.

Picture: Supplied
Picture: Supplied

With the vessel’s limited space, only Marine Biologist Amy Webber and Skipper Dickie Chivell were able to board. They moved the young penguins to their home colony for a quick and safe transfer to the ocean.

Picture: Supplied
Fresh out of the Happy Feet boat and ready for the waves.
Picture: Supplied

As per APSS, the current chick boom coincides with the adult penguin moult that happens annually. This is a period where the parents are unable to go into the water to look for food, and is an incredibly vulnerable time.

This natural timing is made especially dangerous with the added stress that comes from the impact of humans on the environment.

Wilfred Chivell, CEO of Marine Dynamics and founder of the Dyer Island Conservation Trust, explained: ‘These birds are the honey badgers of the ocean, resilient, feisty, and utterly remarkable, but they’ve been decimated by overfishing, predation, and habitat loss. Every chick we can save counts.’

So far this season, 32 chicks have been removed for care, as feeding them is no small task.

Every day, the chick creche goes through six boxes of premium sardines, each costing around R150. The sanctuary depends on expensive fish to provide the necessary nutrients for growth and waterproofing.

Supporters have played a crucial role, as the APSS thanked Shannon and Kruger du Plessis, who quickly launched a fundraising initiative after learning about the chicks’ needs, raising nearly R30,000. The sanctuary credited this donation for helping feed what they affectionately call their ‘pooping troopers.’
‘At the APSS, we can provide care, food, and clean habitats, but it’s through the generosity of the public and supporters like the KruShan Foundation that we can do this vital work,’ Xolani Lawu noted.
The sanctuary encourages anyone wanting to contribute to:
• Donate to the Fishy Fund
• Visit the African Penguin and Seabird Sanctuary in Kleinbaai (which is open daily from 9am to 4pm)
• Donate old towels or newspapers
• Support artificial nest projects to help penguins breed successfully
APSS emphasised that even small gestures help protect a species central to South Africa’s coastal identity.
With waterproof feathers, strong bodies, and their natural instincts kicking in, the rehabilitated chicks made their way into the waters around Dyer Island, many for the first time.
The sanctuary described this particular release as another milestone in a season filled with challenges, teamwork, and hope for a species fighting for survival.
The organisation also encouraged visitors to stop by during the school holidays and support the sanctuary’s shop as part of its ongoing fundraising efforts.
Back to the ocean at last, these brave little waddlers are home again.
Picture: Supplied

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Picture: African Penguin and Seabird Sanctuary/Supplied

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