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Penguin Rescue & Rehabilitation Centre
"Penguins are fascinating creatures, intriguing
scientists and tourists alike. Whether offering
us the mystery and beauty of a 300-metre dive or
entertaining us with comic clumsiness on land,
these charismatic creatures delight the eye and
captivate the heart." - Phil Hockey 2001.
The African Penguin is the only penguin species
that breeds in Africa. More than 40% of African
Penguins breed on the islands between Saldanha
Bay and Cape Town, with almost another 40%
breeding within Algoa Bay near Port Elizabeth.
The present population is about 10% of that at
the start of the 20th century when it was
estimated at over 1.45 million adult birds.
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In the 1950’s the population had declined to
300 000 adults
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By the late 1970’s to only 220 000
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By the late 1980’s, the population was down
to 194 000 adults
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In the early 1990’s only 179 000 adults
remained.
The latest African Penguin Census revealed that
there are less than 120 000 adults left. Given
the large decrease in the 20th century, there is
considerable concern about the long-term
viability of the African Penguin in the wild.
Guano and egg collection caused a near collapse
in the penguin population. More recently,
reduced availability of pelagic fish resulting
from competition with commercial fisheries, has
been responsible for the ongoing declines. The
vulnerability of African Penguins is increased
further by their concentration within relatively
small geographic areas. Consequently,
catastrophic events, in the form of oil spills
affecting thousands of birds, have now become
one of the most important immediate threats
facing African Penguins.
The one ray of hope in this otherwise dark cloud
is that the African Penguin is a robust and
tough animal and thus able to deal with the
rehabilitation process far better than other
species. Combine this factor with a well planned
and managed rehabilitation facility and the
penguins are in with a fighting chance. SANCCOB
was established in the Western Cape in the
1960’s and they have been doing a sterling job
to handle oiled and sick birds in the Western
Cape.
In the Eastern Cape the rehabilitation effort
was fairly fragmented until the rehabilitation
facility was established at Cape St Francis.
For the past 20 years the rehab and rescue work
has been done by a group of dedicated volunteers
in Jeffreys Bay under the guidance of local vet
Dr. Dave Hartley and his wife Chrystal. They
worked tirelessly and without any outside
funding. When Dave passed away in 2003, Chrystal
kept the penguin rehabilitation going but the
need for a more formal centre became evident.
Apart from the J’Bay Penguin Group the staff at
Bayworld in Port Elizabeth also did a sterling
job under difficult circumstances to try and
lend a helping hand.
Now the penguins in the Eastern Cape can also
claim access to the best medical advise
available. They however need your support.
The custom designed facility was completed in
December 2006 and has two components namely the
Intensive Care Hospital and the Rehabilitation
facility. The ICU consists of :
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A hospital room where the birds are kept in
separate crates until they are stabilised
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A treatment room where treatment takes place
and where the medication is kept
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A storeroom for the fish fridges and towels.
The rehabilitation facility is an outside
facility. Penguins are moved here once they have
been stabilised in the hospital. They remain in
the rehabilitation facility until they have
reached the correct release weight and they are
fully waterproofed. The rehabilitation centre
consists of the following areas:
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A freshwater penguin pool with a chlorinator
and filter system
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A holding pen (sleeping quarters for the
penguins) “Penguin Hilton”
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A feeding pen. “Restaurant Prima Penguin”
specialising in pilchard sushi
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A shaded area to allow for recreation time
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A perimeter wall with viewing windows. “Big
Brother eat your heart out."
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