Latest news with #SANCCOB
Time Out
12-05-2025
- General
- Time Out
Cape Town dog owners urged to be careful around penguins
'Irresponsible dog walkers add to the demise of the Critically Endangered African Penguin!' That's the headline of an urgent appeal by the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB), requesting that those who walk their dogs near colonies of seabirds take more care to ensure the safety of these precious creatures. Over the past few years, a number of incidents have been documented of off-leash dogs attacking penguins and other seabirds, resulting in serious injury, trauma and sometimes death. The worst incident of the lot took place in 2022 in Simon's Town, where two dogs from nearby homes attacked and killed 19 African Penguins. It was a truly devastating time for conservation efforts. In a recent statement released by SANCCOB, the importance of controlling your dogs around seabirds was once again driven home, with the non-profit organisation calling any such attacks an "owner problem", not a 'dog problem'. "One of the main challenges with mainland seabird colonies is the additional threats posed by humans and land-based predators, including domestic dogs. In past years, African Penguins have been attacked by unleashed dogs resulting in severe trauma and even death. This is not a 'dog problem', it is an owner problem who disregards by-laws and dog-owner responsibility," SANCCOB insists. "The African Penguin's rapidly declining population has been well-documented, owing to the numerous and complex threats facing the iconic species. We are in a race against time to conserve the species and prevent their impending extinction; stakeholders are working tirelessly to mitigate threats to African Penguins, but we need the public to play their part, too. "We urge dog-owners to be responsible when walking their best fur-friends near seabird colonies." What to do if you see an injured seabird If you come across an injured seabird, please contact SANCCOB on 021 557 6155 during working hours and on 078 638 3731 after hours and on weekends. SANCCOB is a 24-hour Seabird Rescue Centre. SANCCOB advises that you always approach an injured seabird with caution, as species such as gannets and penguins have sharp beaks which could cause you harm. 'Have with you a towel or blanket and wear protection over your hands and eyes. Gently throw the towel or blanket over the bird to catch it, ensuring that the bird is able to breathe. Place the bird in a large box if you have one, after first ensuring that there are holes for air. Keep the bird in a warm quiet place until help arrives,' SANCCOB explains. How to support SANCCOB click here.
Eyewitness News
26-04-2025
- General
- Eyewitness News
Conservationists say efforts to protect SA's endangered penguin population are far from over
JOHANNESBURG - Although World Penguin Day has passed, conservationists said efforts to protect South Africa's endangered penguin population are far from over. BirdLife South Africa and SANCCOB (Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds ) have pushed for stronger legal protections, leading to the creation of new no-fishing zones around six key penguin colonies. These include Dassen Island, Robben Island, Stony Point, Dyer Island, St Croix Island, and Bird Island, which together are home to 76% of the country's African penguin population. Spokesperson for the Two Oceans Aquarium Shanté Rutgers said ongoing action is needed to preserve and protect the African penguins, which are only found on the continent's coast. 'Initiatives from the aquarium to oneself is to just be accountable for what you're doing. As a person, as a human being, we have a major effect on the environment and so everything that we do will impact what is happening out in the wild.'
The Star
25-04-2025
- General
- The Star
It's World Penguin Day
World Penguin Day on 25 April 2025 is a particularly auspicious event for the African Penguin. One of 18 penguin species across the globe, the African Penguin has the dubious distinction of being the most endangered. As the only penguin species in Africa, and only found in South Africa and Namibia, it would be a particularly poor reflection on our ability to protect this iconic species if it were the first penguin in the world to go extinct in the wild. At the current rate of population decline, African Penguins have only about 10 years left. However, it's the first World Penguin Day that is being celebrated after a significant conservation milestone, achieved earlier this year, that gives the African Penguin a glimmer of hope. Light on the horizon As those who have been following recent developments in the news may be aware, African Penguins were recently thrown a lifeline in the form of a Court Order enforcing reconfigured no-take zones around six key colonies along the South African coast. The zones overlap with the core foraging grounds for African Penguins, which prey primarily on sardines and anchovies. The aim is to reduce competition with the commercial fisheries that also target the same resource. Since 21 March 2025, these no-take zones have been stipulated in the conditions of the 'purse seine' fishing permits. The netting of masses of these small pelagic fish is now prohibited in the vicinity of Dassen Island, Robben Island, Dyer Island, Stony Point, and St Croix and Bird Islands in Algoa Bay. The prohibition will be in place for 10 years, and although there are no guarantees that this intervention will reverse the freefall of the African Penguin population, it will give them a fighting chance to recover. One step at a time Determining whether the no-take zones are significant in the African Penguins' struggle for survival depends on close and constant monitoring. BirdLife South Africa and its partners, which include SANCCOB, are using an Automated Penguin Monitoring System (APMS) at the most important penguin colonies. These comprise cleverly engineered weighbridges which are remotely monitored. Years of experience working in penguin colonies allows researchers to determine where penguins are most likely to launch from their island or shore-based habitat, and this knowledge has guided the location and installation of digital weighbridges (disguised as stepping stones) along the penguins' route from land to water and back. A Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) reader in the weighbridge identifies individual penguins through microchips (Passive Integrated Transmitter tags) inserted harmlessly under a penguin's skin on their leg. The resultant data allows BirdLife South Africa's scientists to monitor the penguins' weight before and after their fishing excursions. This provides valuable data on the weight of individual penguins, but the weights of untagged penguins are also useful in calculating the average weight of penguins in the colony. Weight data indicates whether the penguins are managing to find sufficient food to sustain themselves and their chicks, who depend on their parents for sustenance. 'Weight' for it! A wonderful advantage of the APMS is that the public can observe the penguins as they set out on their foraging trips. Cameras at one of the four colonies where the monitoring systems are operating provide live feeds to the Penguin Alert website. In addition to enjoying the sight of these delightful birds as they hop-skip-jump, or just waddle their way to their fishing grounds, penguin enthusiasts can also learn more about this fascinating species. The website provides key facts and information, plots the weights of the birds, and shows the trends of weight gain and loss, which is more than your average scale at the gym can do! Happy World Penguin Day! * BirdLife South Africa is a registered non-profit, public benefit organisation dedicated to bird conservation in South Africa.
IOL News
24-04-2025
- General
- IOL News
It's World Penguin Day
As the first World Penguin Day is celebrated after a significant conservation milestone achieved earlier this year, the African Penguin has a glimmer of hope. As the first World Penguin Day is celebrated after a significant conservation milestone achieved earlier this year, the African Penguin has a glimmer of hope. As the first World Penguin Day is celebrated after a significant conservation milestone achieved earlier this year, the African Penguin has a glimmer of hope. As the first World Penguin Day is celebrated after a significant conservation milestone achieved earlier this year, the African Penguin has a glimmer of hope. As the first World Penguin Day is celebrated after a significant conservation milestone achieved earlier this year, the African Penguin has a glimmer of hope. As the first World Penguin Day is celebrated after a significant conservation milestone achieved earlier this year, the African Penguin has a glimmer of hope. World Penguin Day on 25 April 2025 is a particularly auspicious event for the African Penguin. One of 18 penguin species across the globe, the African Penguin has the dubious distinction of being the most endangered. As the only penguin species in Africa, and only found in South Africa and Namibia, it would be a particularly poor reflection on our ability to protect this iconic species if it were the first penguin in the world to go extinct in the wild. At the current rate of population decline, African Penguins have only about 10 years left. However, it's the first World Penguin Day that is being celebrated after a significant conservation milestone, achieved earlier this year, that gives the African Penguin a glimmer of hope. Light on the horizon As those who have been following recent developments in the news may be aware, African Penguins were recently thrown a lifeline in the form of a Court Order enforcing reconfigured no-take zones around six key colonies along the South African coast. The zones overlap with the core foraging grounds for African Penguins, which prey primarily on sardines and anchovies. The aim is to reduce competition with the commercial fisheries that also target the same resource. Since 21 March 2025, these no-take zones have been stipulated in the conditions of the 'purse seine' fishing permits. The netting of masses of these small pelagic fish is now prohibited in the vicinity of Dassen Island, Robben Island, Dyer Island, Stony Point, and St Croix and Bird Islands in Algoa Bay. The prohibition will be in place for 10 years, and although there are no guarantees that this intervention will reverse the freefall of the African Penguin population, it will give them a fighting chance to recover. One step at a time Determining whether the no-take zones are significant in the African Penguins' struggle for survival depends on close and constant monitoring. BirdLife South Africa and its partners, which include SANCCOB, are using an Automated Penguin Monitoring System (APMS) at the most important penguin colonies. These comprise cleverly engineered weighbridges which are remotely monitored. Years of experience working in penguin colonies allows researchers to determine where penguins are most likely to launch from their island or shore-based habitat, and this knowledge has guided the location and installation of digital weighbridges (disguised as stepping stones) along the penguins' route from land to water and back. A Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) reader in the weighbridge identifies individual penguins through microchips (Passive Integrated Transmitter tags) inserted harmlessly under a penguin's skin on their leg. The resultant data allows BirdLife South Africa's scientists to monitor the penguins' weight before and after their fishing excursions. This provides valuable data on the weight of individual penguins, but the weights of untagged penguins are also useful in calculating the average weight of penguins in the colony. Weight data indicates whether the penguins are managing to find sufficient food to sustain themselves and their chicks, who depend on their parents for sustenance. 'Weight' for it! A wonderful advantage of the APMS is that the public can observe the penguins as they set out on their foraging trips. Cameras at one of the four colonies where the monitoring systems are operating provide live feeds to the Penguin Alert website. In addition to enjoying the sight of these delightful birds as they hop-skip-jump, or just waddle their way to their fishing grounds, penguin enthusiasts can also learn more about this fascinating species. The website provides key facts and information, plots the weights of the birds, and shows the trends of weight gain and loss, which is more than your average scale at the gym can do! Happy World Penguin Day! * BirdLife South Africa is a registered non-profit, public benefit organisation dedicated to bird conservation in South Africa.
The National
17-04-2025
- The National
Flightless fight: Inside the African penguin's battle for survival
Cape Town, with its stunning landscapes, lush greenery and idyllic white sand beaches, is often voted one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Along with its warm climate and sunny blue skies, it has long been a haven for travellers seeking respite from frosty northern hemisphere winters. But it's not just tourists catching waves and soaking up the sun; the region is also home to the African penguin – the continent's only species. This unique bird, typically associated with colder climates, has long captivated locals and visitors as they bask in the sun on Boulders Beach in the picturesque seaside village of Simon's Town. However, it's not all sunshine and selfies for Africa's only penguin – out of 18 penguin species worldwide, it is currently the only one facing extinction. African penguins (Spheniscus demersus) inhabit only the western coastal regions of South Africa and neighbouring Namibia. These small, flightless birds, famous for their adorable waddle, are distinguished by their striking black-and-white plumage, distinctive chest stripe, and pink, featherless skin around their eyes. However, African penguins are facing an alarming population decline – and fast. The International Union for Conservation of Nature reclassified them as critically endangered at Cop16, marking a sobering reality in the species' fight for survival. Recent reports indicate a staggering 97 per cent decline in the African penguin population, which is decreasing at a rate of about eight per cent annually. According to the International Fund for Animal Welfare, fewer than 19,800 adult African penguins remain in the wild, with about 9,900 breeding pairs left. This marks a significant drop from historical population levels, having been estimated at 141,000 breeding pairs in 1956. If this trend continues, the African penguin could face extinction as soon as 2035. Fortunately, thousands of volunteers, donors, and avid bird enthusiasts are joining the penguins in their fight for survival, including BirdLife South Africa and SANCCOB, both international non-profit organisations committed to the rescue, rehabilitation and release of seabirds in South Africa. According to SANCCOB research manager Lisa Nupen, the rapid decline in the penguin population is rooted in a combination of human activities and environmental changes. 'The crisis is driven primarily by their lack of access to prey, which the no-take zones for commercial fisheries seek to address,' Nupen tells The National. 'African penguins face numerous other threats too, including climate change, emerging diseases like avian influenza and disturbances from ship-to-ship refuelling and seismic surveys. Oil spills pose a significant risk too, while predation adds further pressure on their populations.' Alistair McInnes, head of the Seabird Conservation Programme at BirdLife South Africa, believes that humans continue to pose the greatest threat to penguins. 'The offshore transfer of fuel, known as ship-to-ship bunkering, near St Croix Island – once home to the largest colony of African penguins – has severely impacted this once-thriving population,' says McInnes. 'The noise and oil pollution resulting from this activity have contributed to a significant decline in the penguin colony.' The plight of the African penguin is fast gaining international traction, including the attention of Emmy and Bafta award-winning British wildlife filmmaker Bertie Gregory, who travelled to Cape Town to film the seabirds for his new National Geographic series, Secrets of the Penguins (premiering in the UAE on April 25). 'I love penguins in general, but the African penguin is particularly charming,' the British environmentalist tells The National. 'It's an animal of contrast. On one hand, they're goofy and clumsy, falling all over the place seemingly out of control, but at the same time, they're amazing free-divers who can withstand some of the toughest conditions on earth. Their situation just seems so unlikely, yet here we are.' South Africans are also devastated by the threat of losing their beloved penguins. Travel operator Jonathan Lechtman, founder of Travel Republic Africa, has grown up with the adorable seabirds on his doorstep and now regularly takes his international tour groups to see them up close. 'It's one of the top things to do and see when visiting Cape Town, so losing them would be devastating to the tourism industry, local communities, and, most importantly, to the ecosystem,' says Lechtman. 'If the penguin colony were to become extinct, it would undoubtedly affect Cape Town's tourism, if not South Africa's.' McInnes agrees. He also believes the pros of penguin tourism far outweigh the cons, so there is no need to feel guilty if you want to pop by to see the birds during your next visit to Cape Town. 'While there are localised threats due to tourism, such as noise disturbances, these concerns are minor when contrasted with the more significant challenges they face,' says Dr McInnes. 'Penguin-related tourism generates much-needed revenue for South Africans, which is another important reason to ensure that this species does not go extinct.' It's no surprise that bird lovers from across the globe are stepping forward to assist the African penguins in their battle to survive. In addition to providing international supporters the chance to make donations and even adopt a penguin, SANCCOB offers local and international volunteer programmes for those who want to get involved firsthand. 'Our volunteer programmes offer a unique opportunity for individuals to play an important role in seabird conservation,' says SANCCOB's head of volunteering, Lizelle van der Merwe. 'Our volunteer and intern programmes work towards building skills and knowledge in seabird rehabilitation, education and research.' United by their passion for the penguins, SANCCOB recently teamed up with BirdLife to tackle the pressing issue of overfishing. With support from the Biodiversity Law Centre, they successfully filed a lawsuit against the South African Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment regarding its policy on island closures for purse-seine fishing. The lawsuit called for the replacement of the current no-take zones for commercial fishing with scientifically informed alternatives, which would be better suited to the penguins' critical feeding areas while also minimising the economic impact on the purse-seine fishing industry. 'We are pleased about the recent settlement because it secures biologically meaningful foraging areas for African penguins for the next decade,' says Nupen. 'The court order defines no-take zones for commercial fisheries around six key African Penguin breeding colonies. We hope that this will help bring the species back from the brink of extinction.' While things certainly haven't been easy for Africa's only penguin over the years, experts remain optimistic. 'African penguins are long-lived and breed slowly, so the process will not be quick, but with proper long-term management, it is possible to halt and even reverse the population decline,' Nupen says with optimism. Documentarian Gregory firmly believes their future is in our hands. 'It's fairly straightforward to be honest,' he says bluntly. 'If we want to live in a world with African penguins, we need to start looking after them better. Stop fishing their food and stop trashing their nesting habitats.' While the penguins are great for tourism and Instagram photos, their survival goes far beyond that. 'We don't just want to look after these African penguins because they're cute and make us feel warm and fuzzy inside – penguins are indicators of ocean health,' says Gregory. 'We, as humans, need healthy oceans, so selfishly, our successes and future are tied to that of the penguin.' SANCCOB's Nupen agrees. 'African penguins have shown remarkable resilience in the face of historic and contemporary threats to their survival – their status provides insight into the state of our oceans,' she says. 'They need and deserve our support now more than ever.'
