Kiani Satu Oil Spill. Cape St Francis - Gannets & penguins rehabed at SANCCOB.
African Penguin & Cape Gannet rehabilitation after being oiled in the Kiani Satu oil spill at SANCCOB's Cape St Francis rehabilitation centre. August & September 2013
Oiled African penguins and their chicks admitted to SANCCOB Eastern Cape
SANCCOB (Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds) is currently caring for 30 oiled African penguins and four orphaned African penguin chicks at its centre in Cape St. Francis (Eastern Cape) this week. The birds were admitted from Bird- and St. Croix islands off Port Elizabeth (part of the Algoa Bay Hope Spot) and they will be washed and rehabilitated for the next few weeks until they are ready to be released back into the wild.
As a non-profit organisation, SANCCOB is kindly asking the public to donate towards the washing, rehabilitation and hand-rearing costs of these 34 endangered African penguins and to help make sure they are successfully released back into the wild in the coming weeks. Donations can be made online by visiting or through an electronic funds transfer to:
SANCCOB
First National Bank
Account #: 59 23 713 5859
Branch: 203809
Account type: Current
Reference: Initials, surname & OIL
All donate donations are tax deductible. For donation tax receipt enquiries please contact info@sanccob.co.za or 021 557 6155 together with your proof of payment.
For the full story, kindly visit
A special thanks to Linda Collison for filming, editing and producing this video:
Linda Collison
lincolli@iafrica.com
Rehabilitation of oiled penguins continues at SANCCOB Eastern Cape
SANCCOB (the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds) continues to wash and rehabilitate 30 endangered African penguins and four penguin chicks after a mystery oil spill in Algoa Bay, Port Elizabeth (Eastern Cape). The birds were admitted two weeks ago from Bird and St. Croix islands (part of the Algoa Bay Hope Spot) after being rescued by rangers from the Marine Section of the Addo Elephant National Park (SANParks).
A team of about 15 staff and volunteers have been hard at work washing and rehabilitating the birds at SANCCOB’s seabird centre in Cape St. Francis. Almost all of the penguins have been washed, with the exception of two, who were too weak to be washed when first brought to the centre. After some TLC, they are ready to have the oil cleaned off their feathers; the first step in a rehabilitation process that lasts several weeks. For the next three to four weeks, the washed birds will continue to be fed, hydrated and swum to ensure that they regain their natural waterproofing of their feathers. The four African penguins chicks that were admitted as a result of their parents being oiled are responding well to the rehabilitation and now weigh more than 1Kg each.
Juanita Raath, Rehabilitation Coordinator at SANCCOB Eastern Cape, said, “The team is very pleased with how the birds are responding to the rehabilitation. Most of the penguins are very strong and in good condition. Now that we are nearly done with washing all of the birds, we hope to release the first group at the end of June, pending the outcome of their pre-release evaluation. The chicks, however, will still need to grow into young fledgelings over the next six to eight weeks before they will be ready for release back into the wild. ”
Bird and St Croix islands collectively support approximately 60% of the endangered African penguin population in South Africa. The ongoing chronic pollution of seabirds is a major concern for SANCCOB and its conservation partners, as it is estimated that less than 2% of the African penguin population remain in the wild today.
As a non-profit organisation, SANCCOB is asking the public to donate towards the washing, rehabilitation and hand-rearing costs of these 34 endangered African penguins and to help make sure they are successfully released back into the wild in the coming weeks. Donations may be made online by visiting sanccob.co.za/donate or through an electronic funds transfer to:
SANCCOB
First National Bank
Account #: 59 23 713 5859
Branch: 203809
Account type: Current
Swift code: FIRNZAJJ461
Reference: Initials, surname & OIL
SANCCOB (Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds) is currently caring for 30 oiled African penguins and four orphaned African penguin chicks at its centre in Cape St. Francis (Eastern Cape) this week. The birds were admitted from Bird- and St. Croix islands off Port Elizabeth (part of the Algoa Bay Hope Spot) and they will be washed and rehabilitated for the next few weeks until they are ready to be released back into the wild.
As a non-profit organisation, SANCCOB is kindly asking the public to donate towards the washing, rehabilitation and hand-rearing costs of these 34 endangered African penguins and to help make sure they are successfully released back into the wild in the coming weeks. Donations can be made online by visiting or through an electronic funds transfer to:
SANCCOB
First National Bank
Account #: 59 23 713 5859
Branch: 203809
Account type: Current
Reference: Initials, surname & OIL
All donate donations are tax deductible. For donation tax receipt enquiries please contact info@sanccob.co.za or 021 557 6155 together with your proof of payment.
A special thanks to Linda Collison for filming this video:
Linda Collison
lincolli@iafrica.com
African Penguin Release on African Penguin Awareness Day 11 Oct 2014
SANCCOB (Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds) commemorated African Penguin Awareness Day on 11 October by releasing 12 rehabilitated African penguins back into the wild at Seaforth Beach, Simon's Town. Currently, less than 2% of the endangered African penguin population remain in the wild.
In a non-spill year, SANCCOB admits close to 2500 endangered African penguins and other seabirds for rehabilitation and release back into the wild. Since established in 1968, SANCCOB has admitted more than 90 000 seabirds to its seabird rehabilitation centres in Cape Town (Western Cape) and Cape St. Francis (Eastern Cape) in South Africa.
As a non-profit organisation, SANCCOB needs your help to continue its seabird conservation work.
Adopt and name an African penguin:
Start your own fundraiser for SANCCOB on Just Giving: justgiving.com/sanccob
Visit SANCCOB’s online shop for penguin goodies
Donate to SANCCOB online at sanccob.co.za/donate
Volunteer at SANCCOB by emailing volunteers@sanccob.co.za
Report injured penguins and/or oiled birds to SANCCOB by calling (021) 557 6155 (Western Cape) and (042) 298 0160 (Eastern Cape)
Pennies for Penguins (SANCCOB)
8 October is African Penguin Awareness Day, dedicated to raising worldwide awareness about the plight of the endangered African penguin - the only penguin endemic to the African continent. Start your own fundraising campaign and help raise much-needed #penniesforpenguins in support of SANCCOB's rescue and rehabilitation efforts of this iconic species.
Givengain is a safe and secure platform where supporters can use a variety of ways to raise funds on behalf of SANCCOB like running a race, hosting a cake sale, selling art or something simple like cycling to work for a month and getting family and friends to sponsor each kilometer. Every cent raised will support SANCCOB’s rescue and rehabilitation efforts with African penguins.
Less than 2,5% of the population remain in the wild today. Together with its conservation partners and dedicated volunteers, SANCCOB admits approximately 1 500 endangered African penguins every year for rehabilitation to its two centres in South Africa - Cape Town (Western Cape) and Cape St. Francis (Eastern Cape).
Start your campaign and share your activities on social media and tag SANCCOB in your tweets and posts. Remember to use the hashtag #penniesforpenguins.
SANCCOB’s social media platforms:
Facebook: and
Twitter: @SANCCOB and @Penguin_SANCCOB
Instagram: @SANCCOB
The most creative and engaging activities will win an opportunity to tip a penguin box at the penguin release in Simon’s Town (Cape Town) at the official Penguin Festival on 8 October. International supporters will stand a chance to win a SANCCOB hamper for the most creative post. The competition is open to individuals, schools and businesses and there are different prizes for each category.
sanccob.co.za
African penguins released after mystery oil spill SANCCOB 28 June '15
A second chance at life in the wild for 19-year old penguin
On Sunday, 28 June, the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB) released a second group of African penguins rehabilitated at its centre in Cape St. Francis after a recent mystery oil spill hit the two Algoa Bay (Port Elizabeth) colonies. One of the lucky penguins was first banded in 1997 on Bird Island for research purposes, making him a full 19 years old.
The penguin, whose body was 30% covered in oil, was wearing an identification band with the number, T1453, on his flipper when the Marine Rangers Section of South African National Parks (SANParks) rescued him on 28 May 2015. After researchers consulted SANCCOB’s records, it showed that T1453 was first banded as a juvenile penguin back in 1997 on Bird Island by SANParks as part of on-going population research of the species.
T1453 received four weeks of care and T.L.C by SANCCOB’s staff and volunteers, and was approved for release this past Sunday at Seal Point Lighthouse (Cape St Francis), along with 10 other previously oiled African penguins. Juanita Raath, Rehabilitation Coordinator at SANCCOB Eastern Cape, said, “The resighting of T1453 is not only important for on-going population research on the African penguin species but it is also very encouraging for the SANCCOB staff to know that there are still African penguins in the wild that are surviving at a fairly mature age”.
11-year old Jessica Davidson from Port Elizabeth had the opportunity to adopt and release T1453 back into the wild on her birthday on Sunday. Jessica said, “I wanted a penguin for my birthday and I am very lucky to adopt him and wave goodbye as he swam back to his home and friends.”
Since late May, the non-profit seabird centre has admitted 30 oiled African penguins and four orphaned African penguin chicks from Bird and St. Croix islands after being rescued by rangers from the Marine Section of the Addo Elephant National Park (SANParks). The rehabilitation of the remaining 17 previously oiled African penguins continues at SANCCOB, with the veterinary team confirming that the last group of oiled penguins will be ready for release by the end of this week. Also in SANCCOB’s care are four African penguin chicks that were admitted because their parents had been oiled. These four chicks are in good health and regaining the natural waterproofing of their brand new, blue-grey feathers, but it will still be another three to four weeks before they will be ready to head home.
While the majority of the previously oiled penguins have been released back into the wild, the source of the oil spill still remains uncertain.
“The oil spill is a reminder of the constant threats faced by vulnerable seabird populations like the endangered African penguin”, said Raath. “To have met the half-way mark in releasing these birds back into the wild motivates us to continue to improve our oil spill response and rescue operations.”
As a non-profit organisation, SANCCOB is asking the public to support this project by donating funds towards the rehabilitation and hand-rearing costs of the remaining endangered African penguins and to help ensure they are successfully released back into the wild in the coming weeks. Donations may be made online by visiting sanccob.co.za or through an electronic funds transfer to:
SANCCOB
First National Bank
Account #: 59 23 713 5859
Branch: 203809
Account type: Current
Swift code: FIRNZAJJ461
Reference: Initials, surname & OIL
sanccob.co.za
Help raise Pennies for Penguins (SANCCOB)
African penguins are endangered. Less than 2.5% of the population remain in the wild today. Together with its conservation partners and dedicated volunteers, SANCCOB admits approximately 1 500 endangered African penguins every year for rehabilitation to its two centres in South Africa - Cape Town (Western Cape) and Cape St. Francis (Eastern Cape).
Start your campaign and share your activities on social media and tag SANCCOB in your tweets and posts. Remember to use the hashtag #pennies4penguins.
SANCCOB’s social media platforms:
Facebook: and
Twitter: @SANCCOB and @Penguin_SANCCOB
Instagram: @SANCCOB
sanccob.co.za
Saving endangered African penguins with SANCCOB
Anthony Nelson, an animal keeper at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo (Colorado), gives his perspective on volunteering at SANCCOB (the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds) in Cape Town, South Africa, as part of the organisation's keeper exchange programme involving endangered African penguins.
The iconic African penguin is the only penguin species to naturally occur on the African continent. It was once one of South Africa’s most abundant seabirds, but has suffered a massive population decline. During the early 20th century the population was estimated at one million breeding pairs, however, today the total estimate (including Namibia) is less than 25 000 breeding pairs with only 19 284 breeding pairs recorded in South Africa in 2015 (South African Department of Environmental Affairs: Oceans and Coasts). As such, the present population represents approximately only 2% of its prevalence some 80 years ago.
Established in 1968, SANCCOB is a non-profit organisation whose primary objective is to reverse the decline of seabird populations through the rescue, rehabilitationand releaseof ill, injured, abandoned and oiled seabirds – especially endangered seabirds like the African penguin. The organisation works closely with colony managers to identify birds in need of care in the wild and bring them to one of its two centres in South Africa: Cape Town (Western Cape) and Cape St. Francis (Eastern Cape).
In almost 50 years, SANCCOB has treated more than 95 000 seabirds and independent research confirms that SANCCOB’s oil spill response actions alone have increased the African penguin population by 19%.
In a non-spill year, SANCCOB treats up to 2 500 seabirds, of which approximately 1 500 are African penguins.
What you can do to help conserve African penguins:
• Adopt and name an African penguin by visiting sanccob.co.za
• Report injured penguins and/or oiled birds to SANCCOB by calling (021) 557 6155 (normal work hours) / 078 638 3731 (after hours & weekends)
• Donate to SANCCOB online at sanccob.co.za/donate or see what items are needed on SANCCOB’s Wish List sanccob.co.za/donate/wish-list
• Visit SANCCOB’s online shop for penguin goodies at sanccob.co.za/shop-online
• Raise funds for SANCCOB by starting your own fundraiser on Just Giving (justgiving.com/sanccob) or Givengain (justgiving.com/sanccob).
• Volunteer at SANCCOB by emailing volunteers@sanccob.co.za
African penguin chicks rescued as fish stocks are depleted
Depleted fish stocks are taking their toll on African penguin chicks.
Since the beginning of April, 69 weak and emaciated chicks have been admitted to a conservation centre in Cape St. Francis in the Eastern Cape. They were found on St. Croix Island in Algoa Bay. The area is home to almost 60 per cent of South Africa's endangered African Penguin population.
For more News visit:
Save a penguin chick at SANCCOB
DONATE at
Penguin chicks admitted this chick season (since October): 187
The SANCCOB team has dubbed October through to January 'chick season’, when hundreds of small fluffy African penguin chicks that have been abandoned by their parents in the colonies are admitted to SANCCOB’s centres in Cape Town (Western Cape) and Cape St. Francis (Eastern Cape). Here, they receive the best care in the world before being released back into the wild; healthy, well-fed and ready to face life in the ocean as wild penguins.
This mass abandonment of chicks has been recorded since the early 1900s, when adults abandon their young when they start their annual moult. During this time, the parents replace their ‘tuxedo’ with a brand new set of waterproof feathers and are unable to hunt for fish and feed their young during the three to four week moulting process. As a result, the chicks that have yet to fledge are abandoned and face starvation unless conservation organisations like SANCCOB and its partners, SANParks (Table Mountain National Park and the Marine Rangers section of the Addo Elephant National Park) and CapeNature intervene.
Due to the rapid decline in population numbers, the African penguin was reclassified as endangered in 2010 and today it is estimated that less than 2% (25 000 breeding pairs) of the species remain in the wild. The survival of individual penguins is critical if South Africa is to retain the wild population of one of its most charismatic wildlife species. Through the Chick Bolstering Project (CBP), SANCCOB and its project partners are contributing to the wild African penguin population by rescuing abandoned eggs and chicks and releasing them back into the wild after being successfully hand-reared at its seabird centres.
Since the project’s inception in 2006, SANCCOB has successfully hand-reared almost 4 000 chicks and released them back into established penguin colonies like Boulders Beach, Robben Island, Stony Point, Bird and St Croix islands. Ongoing monitoring and research has proven that their survival rate is comparable to that of naturally reared birds and consequently, this is one of the most important interventions to conserve the dwindling African penguin population.
But the success of this important project is dependent upon meeting essential costs including fish, medicine, veterinary supplies, electricity for the incubators, staff training and equipment. Your financial support will help us to save hundreds of penguin chicks this year – stopping the species from sliding into extinction.
• R200 buys three boxes of fish
• R500 helps to buy medicine and veterinary supplies
• R1000 helps to feed and care for one chick
You can be a superhero! Save a penguin chick by supporting us today.
Donate at
African Penguin Release (point of view)- SANCCOB
A point of view video of rehabilitated African penguins being boxed, transported and released by SANCCOB (the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds) at the Stony Point Penguin colony in Betty's Bay, Cape Town (South Africa).
African penguins are endangered. Less than 2% of the population remain in the wild today. Together with its conservation partners and dedicated volunteers, SANCCOB admits approximately 1 500 endangered African penguins (and a 1000 other seabirds) every year for rehabilitation to its three centres in South Africa - Cape Town (Western Cape) and Port Elizabeth and Cape St. Francis (Eastern Cape).
7 Ways you can help to conserve African penguins:
1. Adopt and name an African penguin by visiting
2. Report injured penguins and/or oiled birds to SANCCOB by calling (021) 557 6155 (normal work hours) / 078 638 3731 (after hours & weekends) or to SANParks on 021 786 2329 (office hours) or 0861 106417 (24-hour emergency number)
3. Donate to SANCCOB online at or see what items are needed on SANCCOB’s Wish List
4. Visit SANCCOB’s online shop for penguin goodies at
5. Raise funds for SANCCOB by simply swiping your MySchool MyVillage MyPlanet card:
6. Volunteer at SANCCOB by emailing volunteers@sanccob.co.za
7. Start your own fundraising campaign for SANCCOB with Givengain:
Produced by Jake Lamons - JakeLamons.com. Thank you for volunteering your time and producing this captivating release.