In a tragic incident at the newly established De Hoop Nature Reserve in the Western Cape, a honey badger killed 11 endangered African penguins, raising concerns among conservationists.
The discovery was made during a routine inspection of the colony by seabird conservationists Christina Hagen and Katta Ludynia, in which they found the remains of the penguins.
According to Mail & Guardian, Christina Hagen, the Pamela Isdell Fellow of Penguin Conservation at BirdLife South Africa, expressed shock at the incident.
Initially, disbelief turned to grim realisation as they uncovered more penguin casualties. The attack was unexpected, as the colony’s main predators were thought to be leopards and caracals.
Honey badgers, known for their persistence and inventiveness, managed to breach the protective fence designed to keep predators away from the penguins. The birds, naive to land-based threats, fell victim to the badger’s attack.
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Despite this setback, conservation efforts remain strong. The project team is already enhancing the fence and consulting experts on predator management strategies to prevent future incidents.
Measures include reinforcing vulnerable areas and exploring deterrents like lights or scent to discourage honey badgers.
The loss of these penguins is a setback, but not uncommon in the early stages of colony establishment. Similar challenges were faced by other penguin colonies during their initial phases, as seen with the Stony Point colony in Betty’s Bay, now one of South Africa’s largest.
Conservationists remain determined to create a safe breeding space for African penguins. Over 200 penguins have been released into the colony after being hand-reared at Sanccob. Despite the challenges, the project has demonstrated success in attracting and breeding penguins, providing hope for the conservation of the species.
The African penguin population is critically low, making efforts to establish new colonies crucial for their survival. Organisations like CapeNature, BirdLife South Africa, and Sanccob are working tirelessly to conserve the species and ensure its long-term survival.
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Picture: ludovico di giorgi / Unsplash
