Children and adults alike will have an exciting and instructive experience at SANCCOB’s Seabird Hospital, where they can learn about the beautiful African penguins while caring for the future generation, Cape {town} Etc reports.
Also read: DA in full support of plans to save endangered African penguins
The African penguin, with its distinctive black-and-white feathers and adorable waddle, is indigenous to South Africa and Namibia’s coastlines. These attractive birds serve an important part in our marine ecosystems, but they are currently listed as endangered due to habitat loss, restricted access to fish stocks, and environmental risks.
With only 8 300 breeding pairs remaining in South Africa, the population is declining at an alarming rate of 7.9% per year.
Thanks to SANCCOB (the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds), located in Cape Town’s West Coast district of Table View, a team of marine biologists and volunteers from all over the world devote their time to protecting these lovely species.
Althea Westphal, a concerned citizen, founded the organisation in 1968. She recognised the need for organised efforts to conserve coastal birds endangered by oil spills at the time.
SANCCOB is the only organisation in the world that artificially incubates and hatches wild-origin African penguin eggs before hand-rearing the chicks for release back into the wild, with the goal of bolstering the species’ decreasing population.
Their specialised Chick-Rearing Unit (CRU) raises rescued or abandoned penguin chicks, giving them the maximum chance of survival and release back into nature. On average, SANCCOB receives 500 to 600 abandoned or rescued African penguin chicks and 300 to 400 penguin eggs every year.
After enormous fundraising efforts, work on the new CRU is about to begin, but it needs one final financial push. The CRU provides a lifeline for hundreds of penguin chicks, but the demand for space and resources grows as threats to the species mount.
Visiting SANCCOB’s Seabird Hospital is a fantastic opportunity to introduce your family to the world of African penguin conservation, but there are several ways to help beyond the tour.
For more information on booking tours and how to donate, visit SANCCOB’s website, sanccob.co.za or contact them directly at 021 5576155 or via email at [email protected].
Also read:
African penguins are fighting to survive: 4 ways we can help save them
Picture: Supplied
