Sanccob earns international certification
One of the Bay’s foremost conservation organisations, the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (Sanccob), has earned its international certification from the Global Humane Conservation programme.
The month started on a high for Sanccob, which has been recognised for its high standard of care and treatment of animals.
Global Humane, the first national humane organisation in the US and the world’s largest certifier of animal welfare practices, has helped to verify the humane treatment of more than a billion animals across the globe each year since it was founded in 1877.
Global Humane’s president and chief executive, Dr Robin Ganzert, said Sanccob earned the certification after passing a rigorous independent assessment that reviewed the wellbeing of animals in its care.
Sanccob had demonstrated overall excellence in its animal care and welfare practices, Ganzert said.
He said the process included submission of a pre-audit application, followed by an onsite audit that assessed animal welfare.
“We are thrilled that Sanccob Gqeberha has met the standards for the Global Humane Conservation certification.
“The work they do to reverse the decline of seabird populations, especially endangered species like the African penguin, is critical to conservation efforts and the long-term survival of species in the region,” Ganzert said.
Sanccob’s primary objective is to reverse the decline of seabird populations through the rescue, rehabilitation and release of ill, injured, abandoned and oiled seabirds — especially endangered species such as the African penguin.
Sanccob Gqeberha centre manager Carl Havemann said its work over the years had evolved from being responsive to disaster situations to expanding conservation measures to boost the African penguin population.
“Sanccob Gqeberha is proud to have met Global Humane’s high standards for animal welfare,” Havemann said.
“Through this certification, we will continue to provide the highest quality of veterinary and rehabilitative care to our seabird patients, continue to collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to achieve the best outcomes for seabirds and the habitat they rely on, and to always be accountable, transparent and to uphold our reputation to provide communication that can be trusted.”
Sanccob is internationally recognised as a leader in the field of seabird rehabilitation due to its commitment to providing the highest standard of veterinary care through purpose-built seabird hospitals and rehabilitation facilities in Cape Town and Gqeberha.
It admits an average of 2,000 seabirds a year, excluding emergencies, and has a release rate of about 75% for African penguins and 50% for other seabird species.