Security tightened for African Penguin at Simon's Town

Thursday 7 July 2016

Carmel Loggenberg -Roberts

Last month, a leopard killed 33 endangered African Penguins at Stony Point Nature Reserve at Betty's Bay in the Western Cape.(REUTERS)

The City of Cape Town's Environmental Management says several measures are being enforced to protect penguins at Simon's Town in the Cape Peninsula.

There has been a spate of penguin killings by a wild cat, known as a caracal, in the past few weeks.

Officials are hopeful that trap cameras which have been set up will help with the capture.

The African Penguin is already listed as an endangered species. Now they are under further attack by caracal near Boulders Beach which is home to many of these sea birds in the Cape.

The predator has been caught in action killing more than a dozen penguins.

Officials say it's imperative they stop the predator but be mindful on methods used.

“Our first plan of action is to try and trap the animal. Caracals are fairly intelligent animals. So it’s quite a tricky process if we do [it] successfully. We will have him collared and we will re-release him into his home ... the Table Mountain national park - hopefully that will discourage him for a while.”

Officials cannot confirm where the wild cat spends it's time during the day before he attacks but say they have established the times when he comes for his prey.

Last month, a leopard killed 33 endangered African Penguins at Stony Point Nature Reserve at Betty's Bay in the Western Cape.

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