Supporting CapeNature and SANCCOB in their vital work with the critically endangered African penguin at Stony Point
BBC Penguin-Pals at the Penguin Palooza
This year was the first year that the BBC joined in with CapeNature, SANCCOB and WWF and put up a display under the marquee at the ninth annual Penguin Palooza in Stony Point.
Strong winds and a power outage on the morning of the Palooza provided some challenges as we tried to set up a “Pop Up” BBC stand. Some “boer maak a plan” tricks were needed to secure the BBC posters and tablecloths in the wind! Thankfully it turned into a beautiful day, the wind dying down during the morning, and generators provided power for the essentials.
The BBC Penguin-Pal volunteers had the chance to chat to visitors about what they and the BBC do to help support CapeNature and SANCCOB in their vital work at Stony Point.
The children’s groups that had been invited all looked as if they were having a great time with the fun kids’ activities arranged by CapeNature and SANCCOB – colouring in pages, “fishing” for fish with magnets in a tub of water, joining the penguin dance, meeting Kai and lots more.
The highlight of the day was the release of some rehabilitated penguins from #SANCCOB to join the Stony Point colony. We wish these new Stony Point residents safety and success in adding to the population of the Critically Endangered African Penguin.
BBC penguin-pals drivers reach their 40th trip!
Congratulations to the BBC Penguin-Pals drivers who completed their 40th trip on 13 November.
These volunteers were trained in February 2024 and they help to drive adult birds, juveniles, chicks and eggs in needs of care and treatment from Stony Point to a halfway meeting point in Somerset West. They meet up with a SANCCOB driver who then transports the birds to SANCCOB in Tableview.
Marie was available to respond to this call-out from CapeNature at Stony Point but the whole team of enthusiastic volunteers have worked together to reach this milestone.
Well done to the Penguin-Pals Team: Kim and Wessel, Brian, Tim, Marie, Jenni and Hannah, Tienie, Conrad, Louise, Liz and Jorika, and Lucille for the valuable contribution you all make to get these critically endangered birds to SANCCOB as soon as possible.
Every penguin is important for the survival of the species.
Penguin-Pals First Responders
On 4 November, four of us (Jenni, Hannah, Graham, and Carol) attended the Oil Spill training at SANCCOB presented by Monica Stassen, the Preparedness and Response Manager at SANCCOB. Conrad was able to attend online.
Monica covered topics such as the types of pollutants, persistent and non-persistent oil types, the types of oil spills, the external and internal effects of oil on marine birds and some of the historical oil spills around the world that had devastating effects on marine life.
Locally, in 2000, The Treasure sank about 20km north of Robben Island and 20km south of Dassen Island. The ship had 1300 tons of fuel on board. The resulting oil spill, was one of the world’s worst coastal bird disasters and endangered 41% of the world’s African Penguin population. 21 000 penguins were oiled.
On the positive side, there was an amazing response from the world to assist and it is considered the most successful response to wildlife crises as 90% of the birds were released. The oil also headed towards Dassen Island.
Do you remember Peter, Percy and Pamela? They were tagged and were amongst the 19 500 un-oiled penguins that were caught on Dassen Island, taken to Port Elizabeth and released at Cape Recife. This was to give rescue and rehabbers time to clear the oil around Dassen Island in order to prevent further disaster to 1000s more penguins. The penguins swam back to Dassen Island. It was an amazing translocation exercise to help save these penguins.
She also told us about the phases of an oiled wildlife response, how field assessments are done, basic principles of catching and transporting birds, the rehabilitation process that takes place at SANCCOB and the importance of being prepared for disaster soiled birds.
It was a very interesting session but also shocking to see the tragic impact of large oil spills on marine life. Another oil spill disaster around our coast could decimate the critically endangered African penguin population!