New hatchery for endangered penguins

NEED

During the 1930s, about 1.5 million adult African penguins lived along the coast of Southern Africa. Since then, human activity has reduced their number by a staggering 90%. The African penguin has just been reclassified endangered on the IUCN Red Data List. Together with over a dozen other sea bird species, they are under considerable threat. Population decline is largely due to environmental fluctuations, food shortages, oiling at sea, loss of habitat, predation and human interference.

OVERVIEW

SANCCOB (the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds) aims to conserve and protect South Africa's sea birds, especially threatened species, for the benefit of present and future generations. They strive to reverse the decline in sea bird populations through rescue, rehabilitation and release of oiled, ill and injured sea birds. Research conducted by the Percy Fitzpatrick Institute of African Ornithology at the University of Cape Town shows that the African penguin population is 19% higher due to the efforts of SANCCOB than it would be in the absence their rehabilitation efforts.

Evidence from recent research suggests that the introduction of hand-reared chicks has a significant impact on conserving wild populations (Barham et al.2008). The Chick Bolstering Project, administered by SANCCOB, and implemented together with international and local zoos, universities and conservation management bodies works towards this objective.

SANCCOB plans to upgrade their existing chick-rearing facility to include a hatchery where they can develop local expertise to hatch African penguin eggs and to hand-rear chicks. This is a necessary and pro-active step towards addressing the declining wild populations of the recently re-classified endangered African penguin species and other vulnerable seabirds.

WHAT WE LIKE ABOUT THIS PROJECT

• This project forms part of a holistic intervention to increase the population of endangered sea birds
• The organisation has proven itself as a model of best practice for seabird rehabilitation.
• The organisation collaborates with international and local organisations that are recognised leaders in wildlife and conservation research.

IMPACT HIGHLIGHTS

An investment of R184,643.25 will cover 35 percent of the budget for the upgrading of the chick rearing facility to house the new hatchery.

The upgraded facility will be used to rear orphaned chicks and to hatch eggs sourced from conservation partners.

ORGANISATIONAL CAPACITY

SANCCOB has successfully rescued and rehabilitated 86 000 sea birds since 1968 and in the absence of a major oil spill or catastrophic natural disaster, SANCCOB treats approximately 1000 African penguins and 1000 other sea birds every year.

SANCCOB’s reputation for success both locally and internationally has won them recognition as a rehabilitation partner during oil spills by the South African government. In addition, SANCCOB has developed internationally recognised standards for the management and care of captive sea birds based on their own experience.

SANCCOB has a dynamic management team of four with a good working knowledge of each other's portfolios. They also employ a full-time veterinarian and researcher.

RISK PROFILE

Key Strengths

• Concept: The upgrade of the existing facilities will allow SANCCOB to improve their capacity to increase the population of African penguins.
• Design: This is a collaborative project between SANCCOB and local and international experts in the field. This gives the organisation easy access to relevant expertise, which will allow them to constantly improve their intervention.
• Capability: SANCCOB has extensive experience in hand-rearing and releasing seabird chicks.
• Control: The project is based on international best practice and will be implemented in collaboration with various experienced industry leaders from South Africa and abroad. SANCCOB has made various financial investments to ensure their future financial sustainability is not completely dependent on external donors.
• Sustainability: Although the project depends heavily on the input from international stakeholders, the project is designed to ensure skills transfer and will therefore develop local skills in the hatching of African penguins, ensuring long-term sustainability.

Key Risks - Low

• Sustainability: The hatchery will require extended hours of work due to the volatility of very small chicks. These extended hours combined with the emotional strain involved in this type of work could result in staff burn-out. This risk is mitigated by the constant availability of volunteers to provide assistance.
• External: Some of the work relies on external contractors, and it is possible that these costs might escalate. SANCCOB has however indicated that they will continue with the renovations regardless of any price increases.