Adopt an African penguin egg – appeal
THE Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (Sanccob) has taken in more than 319 abandoned African Penguin eggs and chicks, and appealed to the public for help.
With Sanccob maintaining operations during the lockdown, they encouraged members of the public to adopt the eggs and contribute to their incubation.
Spokesperson Ronnis Daniels said Sanccob had admitted to their rehabilitation facility 319 African penguin eggs, rescued by seabird and penguin rangers working in the colonies.
“Seabird operations have been maintained at Sanccob but funding is a concern at this time because tours, school visits and shop sales are all income streams that are dormant now. About 36% of Sanccob’s income is derived from the US and Europe, and we have seen an immediate drop in income since the Covid-19 lockdown on the North American and European continents.
“Thirty-six eggs are still in incubators and will hatch in the next few weeks. Annually, at this time of year we experience what we call ‘egg
“319 abandoned eggs in incubation desperately in need of funding Ronnis Daniels Sanccob spokesperson
season’, and with the extra efforts and mouths to feed we encourage the public to adopt the eggs and contribute to their incubation.”
Daniels said the eggs are rescued when in unsafe nesting areas and when excessive heat causes heat stress in the parent birds, resulting in the abandonment of their eggs.
“Predation is also a factor that results in abandoned eggs and chicks. Last week, we received a donated incubator for a large number of eggs from Steinhart Aquarium at the California Academy of Sciences in the US.
“We currently have African penguin chicks varying from tiny hatchlings to weighing over 1.3kg being hand-reared in our chickrearing unit and nursery areas.”
Daniels said releases still take place weekly. “We have not changed that, as the welfare of our seabird patients and bolstering the wild populations of seabirds remain our primary objectives.”
Daniels added that the egg adoption was a meaningful virtual gift with a huge impact in support of Sanccob’s chick-bolstering project.
“Rescued eggs are incubated and hatched, and the funds raised help fund the incubation process.”
Visit www.sanccob.co.za or email: marketing@sanccob.co.za for more information.