SANCCOB works tirelessly to save African penguins from extinction, caring for abandoned chicks and advocating for stricter conservation regulations. Image: Daily Sabah
(The Post News)- As African penguins teeter on the brink of extinction, the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB) is leading the charge to save the species.
The Chick Rearing Unit and Nursery at SANCCOB provides critical care to abandoned penguin chicks, mostly rescued from colonies in Simon’s Town and Stony Point in Cape Town. Parents often abandon these chicks as they venture further out to sea, struggling to find food due to depleted fish stocks.
According to SANCCOB, the lack of food availability, coupled with extreme weather events caused by climate change, has devastatingly impacted African penguin populations.
Rehabilitation efforts become increasingly vital as conditions worsen. Seabird Ranger, in collaboration with managing authorities, rescues penguin chicks and transports them to SANCCOB for veterinary care and a second chance at life.
Despite conservation efforts, the future of African penguins remains bleak. With fewer than 10,000 breeding pairs remaining, experts warn that penguins could be extinct in the wild by 2035. The species’ main food sources, such as sardines and anchovies, are rapidly depleting due to overfishing and climate change.
To combat this, SANCCOB advocates for stricter regulations to protect key breeding sites and enforce marine pollution laws. Current measures, including no-take zones, fail to safeguard critical foraging areas, leading to increased competition between penguins and fisheries.
SANCCOB urges the public to support conservation efforts by donating or signing petitions to push for stronger protective measures.
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