Francois Louw
Rescue centres in South Africa have been swamped by chicks abandoned by parents due to a lack of food. So far this month 430 African penguin chicks have been brought to the Sanccob rehabilitation centres which are supported by Bristol Zoological Society.
Last year over the entire November and December chick season the rescue centres dealt with 440 abandoned birds. The rescue centres include one on Robben Island where Nelson Mandela was held in prison off Cape Town.
As African penguin populations are currently facing a crisis due to a diminished food supply near their nesting colonies, there is a substantial risk that this species could eventually become extinct without action
Every year large numbers of penguin chicks are abandoned by their parents when their month-long moult begins and they are unable to swim out to sea to gather fish for them. The chicks that have not already fledged are abandoned and would starve to death without conservationists' help.
This year the crisis has intensified due to steep declines in fish stocks which meant parents struggled to feed their young. Dr Christoph Schwitzer, Director of Conservation at Bristol Zoological Society said: “Unless conservation organisations intervene, these chicks will starve to death. "As African penguin populations are currently facing a crisis due to a diminished food supply near their nesting colonies, there is a substantial risk that this species could eventually become extinct without action.”
But this year the crisis has got worse because the price of fish has soared. This means that an extra £20,000 is needed before Christmas to pay for food and care for the chicks.
Bristol Zoological Society yesterday urged as many people as possible to to donate to this cause via http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fund/penguinappeal
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