Threats to African Penguins & Penguin Conservation

[Lisbeth]

They are wild birds not hens

[Mel]

And what does one do with penguin eggs?

(I'm sure there is some sick explanation to it like there is with rhino horns, but I never heard about penguin eggs being
useful for something with humans...)

People eat the eggs Mel . It was part of Cape cuisine and considered a delicacy , and even available commercially in Cape Town as recently as 1965-1970 Regularly appeared on restaurant menu's

You learn something new every day... But that I would have never imagined...

Anyway, thanks for the insight, okie.

[okie]

Well , even our earliest ancestors ate bird eggs . And for the early Dutch under Jan van Riebeeck , it was quite a staple diet . He actually describes in his journal that they regularly sent expeditions to Robben Island in order to collect eggs , from where they would return with 1000's of sea-bird eggs , as well as seabirds themselves , such as penguins and cormorants .

[Lisbeth]

That's history and they did it all over the world and in many places probably still do

[Toko]

https://www.environment.gov.za/mediarel ... uinday2016

DEA commemorates World Penguin Day
25 April 2016



The Department of Environmental Affairs today, 25 April 2016, joins the rest world in celebrating World Penguin Day, in the face of the declining African Penguin population in Southern Africa.

Over the past century, the African penguin population has been facing a rapid decline, records show that the African penguin was South Africa’s most abundant seabird and that the shared population between South Africa and Namibia was well over one million pairs in the 1920s. Recent records show that some breeding colonies have experienced about 90% decrease in their population sizes. As a result, the current penguin population is just under 20 000.

Modern day challenges that still affect African penguin populations include pollution; habitat degradation; food shortages; climate change; human disturbance; diseases; high levels of predations of eggs, chicks and/or adults mainly by gulls, seals and other land-based predators such as mongoose and caracals. In certain areas such as False Bay-Seal Island, Geyser Rock next to Dyer Island and Vondeling Island, penguins share their habitat with the Cape fur seal. This has introduced competition for breeding space leading to management interventions, such as, the installation of artificial nests which have proved to be a successful intervention. The nests assist penguins with shade thereby protecting them from heat stress. The most recent of this intervention was at Vondeling Island on the west coast where seals have recently re-colonised following east ward shifts from the west in prey distribution.

Due to the rapid decline of the African penguin and indications that the current trend will not be reversed despite the conservation efforts, in 2010, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) re-assessed the conservation status of the African penguin, which resulted in the up-listing from ‘vulnerable’ to ‘endangered’. The up-listing of the conservation status of the African penguin led the DEA and a group of experts from various organisations and management authorities to develop the first national Biodiversity Management Plan (BMP) for the African Penguin. This plan unified existing efforts by various authorities in attempt to halt the decline of this species.

The African Penguin BMP was gazetted in October 2013, following stakeholder engagements as well as a public participation process and is therefore in its third year of implementation. The aim of BMPs is to ensure the long-term survival of species to which the plan relates. The plan also provides clear objectives and a concise way-forward on how the actions relating to the threats will be dealt with.

The implementation of the actions within the African Penguin Biodiversity Management Plan is carried out by two Working Groups, the Population Reinforcement and the Habitat Working Groups. These two core working groups (WGs) are supported by the African Penguin Steering Committee and the Top Predators Scientific Working Group both led by the DEA. Both the Population Reinforcement and Habitat WGs comprise of various organisations including the three management authorities Cape Nature, SANParks and Robben Island Museum in collaboration with National Zoological Gardens, BirdLife, Academia, Rehabilitation centres, to mention a few.

This collaborative approach to conserve the African penguin brings together the skills of policy-makers, local experts and managing authorities in sharing knowledge to work in a more effective way to save the declining African penguin population.

The breeding colonies of African penguins are protected in accordance with the National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act. The African penguin is considered to be at serious conservation risk as they are not immune to pressures caused by humans which mainly occur outside of protected areas.

African penguins like other seabirds, are apex predators and are very sensitive to ecosystem changes; which means that they respond to changes in their environment, including their prey, thereby assisting in providing valuable information on the overall health of our marine ecosystems. By studying top predators, such as African penguins, valuable information is obtained on the state of the marine environment. This information assists in the co-management of prey resources with the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and early detection of ecosystem changes.

For media enquiries contact:

Zolile Nqayi
Cell:082 898 6483

[Toko]

http://www.rnews.co.za/article/8988/wea ... stern-cape

WEAK PENGUIN CHICKS ADMITTED TO SANCCOB EASTERN CAPE
MAY 11, 2016


Since the start of April 2016, 69 endangered African penguin chicks have been admitted to the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB) in Cape St. Francis.

The penguin chicks were found in a very weak, emaciated state by the Marine Section Rangers of the Addo Elephant National Park (SANParks) on St. Croix Island in Algoa Bay and subsequently, rescued and admitted to SANCCOB to be hand-reared. It is believed that the adult penguins nesting on the island are struggling to find sufficient fish and are also, therefore, unable to feed their young.

Five groups of weak penguin chicks have been rescued thus far, on separate occasions, by the Marine Section Rangers, often amid inclement weather conditions and high swells around the island.

Juanita Raath, SANCCOB’s Rehabilitation Coordinator, explains, “The chicks that have been admitted were very skinny, dehydrated and malnourished. As small chicks in SANCCOB’s care, they are fed six times a day with a special formula made up of blended fish, water and a variety of vitamins to boost their immune systems. The first feed starts at 06h00 in the morning with the last peeping beak being fed at 21h00.”

The smallest chick admitted thus far weighed only 330 grams on admission. Just four weeks later, the chick is doing well and weighing 1.2 kilograms. The rehabilitation of a chick can take anything from six weeks to three months, depending on their size and condition.

These penguin chicks will receive extra special treatment from SANCCOB staff and volunteers until, as juvenile penguins, they are deemed fit and healthy enough for release back into an established colony, under careful monitoring from colony managers, SANParks. Penguins found on the nearby Bird Island were reported to be in a healthy and well-nourished condition.

Algoa Bay is home to approximately 60% of South Africa’s endangered African penguin population. The diminishing supply of fish stocks remains one of the major threats to the survival of the species. Once considered to be one of South Africa’s most iconic species, the African penguin was classified as endangered in 2010.

With an estimated 25 000 breeding pairs left in the wild, the population is at approximately 2.5% of the estimated figure of one million breeding pairs, recorded in the early 20th century. With the rapid decline of this species, the survival of individual penguins is critical.

Rescuing endangered African penguin chicks forms part of the Chick Bolstering Project (CBP), a multi-partner project between SANCCOB, the Bristol Zoological Society, the Animal Demography Unit (University of Cape Town), South African Department of Environmental Affairs (Oceans and Coasts), CapeNature, Robben Island Museum and SANParks.

Since the project’s inception in 2006, SANCCOB has successfully released more than 4 000 chicks back into the wild. Independent research confirms that the survival rates for these hand-reared penguins are similar to those of naturally-reared birds, making it an effective conservation intervention.

[Lisbeth]

There is not even enough fish for the penguins and the Government wants to lift the ban in a protected area

[Flutterby]

Terrible!

[Lisbeth]

More than half of the world's penguin species threatened with extinction



More than half of the world’s penguin species are threatened with extinction, according to penguin experts convened at the Ninth International Penguin Congress in Cape Town, South Africa this week.

The plight of the African penguin, the most rapidly declining of all 18 species, has focused international concern in South Africa and Namibia.

In the 1950s, more than 140 000 pairs bred up and down the coasts of those two countries. Today, only 25 000 pairs remain. African penguins are threatened by food shortages, climate change, human disturbance, and increased predation by seals.

Oil spills also pose a continuous threat. The Treasure oil spill in 2 000 hit the main penguin landing beaches and oiled nearly 20 000 penguins. There have been 14 major oil spills in South Africa since 1968.

Just last week, more than 150 penguins were again affected by an oil spill in Port Elizabeth. Following the emergency, the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB) is calling for aid in assisting to save and rehabilitate the penguins.

All of these threats, like the most recent one mentioned above, could be eliminated by proactive human action, but still, the majority of penguins face a very uncertain future.

Some small conservation victories can be seen, thankfully.

“One of the major positive changes in the last three years has been the increase in marine protected areas around the world,” said Dr Dee Boersma, of the Global Penguin Society.

“For more than 30 years, we have studied Magellanic penguins in Argentina, and finally in 2015, the government and the international community approved a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in Patagonia that should help penguins as well as other marine species.”

According to Dr Pablo Garcia Borboroglu, co-chair of the IUCN Penguin Specialist Group, "two species of penguins, Adélies and Gentoos, are also doing better than when the International Penguin Congress convened three years ago".

The group recommended strengthening laws and policies relating to fisheries and management of human activities that negatively impact penguins.

“Even though there is some good news, we cannot be complacent. Immediate interventions are needed to better manage the marine environment,” says Boersma.

Conservationists and avifauna experts from all over the world are in Cape Town this week as South Africa hosts the 9th International Penguin Congress (IPC) until 9 September 2016.

The event is organised by a local organising committee headed up by CapeNature’s Dr Lauren Waller and includes representatives from the University of Cape Town, the Department of Environmental Affairs, the South African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB), and the University of Bristol. The congress is sponsored by the Global Penguin Society and The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB).

Oil slicked penguins removed from Addo Islands



The Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB), are facing an emergency after more than 150 penguins have been affected by an oil spill in the Bay surrounding Port Elizabeth.

Over the past two days, SANParks says they have rescued 45 penguins off Bird and St Croix islands, which form part of the Addo Elephant National Park, after an oil spill adjacent to St Croix on Sunday, 14 August.

The park’s marine rangers retrieved the birds from the islands, after rangers stationed on Bird Island alerted park authorities to finding oiled birds on their nests.

The assistance of the penguin rehabilitation centre, SANCCOB from Cape St Francis, was called in to assist.

The birds were initially treated on the island, and upon their return to land, were split between SANCCOB and SAMREC (South African Marine Rehabilitation and Education Centre) in Port Elizabeth for further rehabilitation.

Some of the penguins were covered over 100% of their bodies.

Oil breaks down the natural waterproofing of a penguin’s feathers, so the bird cannot regulate its body temperature, either in the ocean or on land, often leading to hypothermia.

Oil also causes skin and eye irritation and when ingested (a natural reaction for penguins is to preen their feathers to remove the oil) can result in ulcers, a reduced immune system and organ failure.

Birds admitted to the centre are usually dehydrated, stressed and weak. They need intensive care to improve their strength and hydration, before being treated with a solution to break down the oil, washed and dried.

How can you help?

Donations of old newspapers and towels are greatly needed. If you can help, please drop off these items at SANCCOB’s centre in Cape St Francis (next to the Seal Point Lighthouse) or at the Wimpy drop-off point in Jeffrey’s Bay.

"We are hoping that the cost of the actual rescue and rehabilitation work will be covered by shipping insurance, once the identity of the vessel is confirmed," SANCCOB says.

SA low-cost airline Mango, along with The Herald, Tempest Car Hire and Colibri this week already donated several kilograms of toweling to the SANCCOB Pengiun rescue and rehabilitation centre in Cape St Francis.

You can also support our work by adopting a penguin or becoming a volunteer at either SANCCOB or SAMREC.

SAMREC asks that members of the public who come in contact with stranded seabirds, phone them on 041 583 1830 during business hours, and on 084 587 8346 after business hours.

What can you do to help a stranded bird?

- Do NOT return the bird to the sea
- Please keep dogs away and please do not crowd the bird
- Do NOT feed or give water
- If possible, please wait for help to arrive

Although it is still unclear what the exact cause of the oil spill is, authorities are investigating the source of the oil.

An additional support team from SANCCOB’s centre in Cape Town was deployed to Cape St Francis to assist with the rehabilitation of the oiled penguins and rescued chicks, while SANParks also deployed some of its rangers to the centre to assist.

The oil spill and penguin emergency comes ahead of the 9th International Penguin Congress (IPC), which will be hosted in Cape Town from 5 to 9 September this year.

The IPC is the primary gathering of the world’s leading scientists, research managers and policy makers working on penguin biology, ecology, health and behaviour to discuss ongoing research, identify current and emerging conservation issues and create action plans.

[Lisbeth]

2018-12-22 09:03
Melanie Gosling, Correspondent


Ayoba, one of the African penguin sperm donors. (Photo supplied, Two Oceans Aquarium)

Test-tube babies for African penguins?

Penguin sperm banks?

Sounds far-fetched. But a researcher at the University of the Western Cape has taken the first step towards in vitro fertilisation of these threatened birds.

"That's my dream, to be able to do that for these threatened African penguins. It's never been done before for this species and that is my goal," said Patrick Siyambulela Mafunda.

His doctoral thesis has laid the foundation. Mafunda spent two years developing a protocol to preserve African penguin sperm, using semen from two penguins at the Two Oceans Aquarium.

"The African penguin is Africa's only penguin species and it is listed as an endangered species. So if we don't come up with good plans to conserve these animals, they'll be extinct soon,” Mafunda said.

While there have been many studies done on the conservation of this species, there were none on the reproductive biology.

"We needed to understand the reproductive biology if we are going to help preserve the species, especially if we want to do in vitro fertilisation eventually.”

Mafunda's two sperm donors were Ayoba and Agape, whose home is Cape Town's Two Ocean's Aquarium.

It's a tricky business, dealing with penguins, as they can give a mean "bite" and use their claws to scratch.

The first part of the research was to describe the histology and ultra-structural features of the birds' testes and ovaries, which Mafunda did from dead penguins from Sanccob rehabilitation centre in Tableview.

"Some of the penguins had to be euthanised because they were too weak to survive in the wild."

The next part of the research was to find out when they breed, to collect semen and to find a way to preserve it for future insemination. Mafunda had to take blood samples from the penguins' feet for hormonal profiles, and collect fresh faeces, which involves waiting around and then grabbing the penguin poo as soon as it lands.

Breeding seasons

The penguins have two breeding seasons: a short season in January and February, and a longer one from August to November.

Getting the sperm involved a particular type of abdominal massage. This Mafunda did not do himself as in order to reduce stress on the birds, it was important that it was done by one of the aquarium staff who the penguins knew and saw daily.

"So I trained them in the massage technique. The penguins became very friendly then, they enjoyed it. Generally, the African penguin is not friendly."

Once he had the semen in a specimen jar, Mafunda had to rush back to his laboratory at UWC as quickly as possible for analysis. But there was another obstacle in his way: the Fees Must Fall protest action that led to universities closing at times.

"For two years, Fees Must Fall action would occur at the same time as the penguin breeding season, making it very difficult to get my work done. January was chaos. I was so frustrated, because to do this research I had to have a lot of samples."

In the end, he managed to get enough to carry on with the project.


Agape, one of the African penguin sperm donors. (Photo supplied, Two Oceans Aquarium)

"I am very happy with the results. We developed a way to preserve semen and to create a biobank. That is important because if the species numbers drop even more, and in vitro fertilisation becomes an option, this research has provided a foundation for other areas of research."

Mafunda, whose background is in medical bioscience, comes from the small town of Matatiele in the Eastern Cape, near the Lesotho border.

"It was always my dream to move into research, but I did not really pay much attention to natural environment. Then, when I was reading a government publication, I came across an article about a biodiversity management plan, and read that the African penguin is the only one on the continent, and I became interested."

From that, he developed his thesis topic.

"Now that I've got to understand more about the environment, I realise why it is so important to teach people about it, because there are just so many threats - plastic pollution for instance."

The African penguin occurs in Namibia and South Africa. In historic times, numbers were estimated to be around one million birds, but those numbers have since plummeted. Reasons include reduced food availability around breeding colonies, predation by seals and kelp gulls, and oil spills.

Researcher Rob Crawford recorded a collapse of penguin numbers in South Africa from about 56 000 breeding pairs in 2001 to 21 000 pairs in 2009 – a loss of 35 000 pairs (more than 60%) in just eight years.