SANCCOB is raising funds to expand and improve its Chick Rearing Unit

The Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB) is currently raising funds to upgrade and improve its Chick Rearing Unit (CRU) centre in Cape Town. SANCCOB is renowned for its commitment to African penguin conservation. It is the only organisation in the world that artificially incubates, hatches and hand-rears African penguin chicks before reintroducing the young penguins back into their natural habitat, thereby bolstering the dwindling wild population.

This work takes place within the confines of the Chick Rearing Unit, where the delicate process of raising and nurturing these vulnerable creatures takes place. However, in order to further expand and improve this vital facility, SANCCOB is working hard to meet its fundraising goal.

Despite commendable progress, there is still an R800 000 gap that needs to be filled in order to make this envisioned expansion a reality.

Also read: A hotel in Cape Town adopted two penguins to help with their rehabilitation

The existing CRU, according to the NGO, was renovated in 2011 as a dedicated facility to care for African penguin chicks, which was desperately needed at the time. The Chick Bolstering Project of SANCCOB began in 2006 as a collaborative project between SANCCOB, conservation authorities and the South African government to halt and reverse the decline of the African penguin population.

This is accomplished by collaborating with conservation management authorities to identify eggs and chicks at penguin colonies in need of rescue, reintroducing artificially reared chicks into the wild, and conducting related research. SANCCOB employs Penguin and Seabird Rangers to monitor, rescue, stabilise and transport seabirds in need of assistance, as well as collect valuable data for research and ensure that seabirds’ natural habitat is preserved.

Since then, the threats to this endangered species have changed, and the number of eggs and chicks admitted has increased exponentially, making SANCCOB's conservation efforts to reverse the population decline even more critical.

Each year, SANCCOB admits 500 to 600 African penguin chicks and 300 to 400 African penguin eggs, with numbers increasing year after year, owing primarily to chicks abandoned during extreme weather events such as extreme heat or flooding of nests during rain storms or by moulting parents.

The current facility in Cape Town is no longer adequate in terms of space, flow and hygiene requirements, and more space with improved amenities is required to continue this vital role and ensure everything is done to save the species from extinction. The current release rate of hand-reared African penguin chicks at SANCCOB is 81%; however, this is becoming more difficult to achieve due to ageing infrastructure and a lack of available space.

The unit's expansion will allow SANCCOB to accept twice as many abandoned and rescued African penguin eggs and chicks, helping to boost the wild population. The added benefits include opportunities for raising awareness, developing skills for individuals interested in conservation fields, training in husbandry skills and mentoring that will last a lifetime.

SANCCOB will join two existing buildings, which will expand the CRU, to create more space, better flow and a more hygienic environment. This expansion would include an egg incubation room, a chick incubation and brooder room, a crates room, a food preparation room, a laundry room, a staff and intern bathroom, a storage area and an outdoor pen for chicks to get fresh air and sunlight.

The success of this expansion will have a direct and positive impact on the African penguin's declining population.

SANCCOB relies on donor funding to carry out its critical work with southern African seabirds, and it still needs to raise R800 000 to make this expansion a reality. That's just R200 from 4 000 donors.

Please visit the SANCCOB donation page if you are willing and able to contribute R200 or any amount; every cent counts!

Find the page here.

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Also read:

Sanccob calls for public assistance to improve penguin numbers

Picture: SANCCOB saves seabirds / Facebook