Second group African penguins released after mystery oil spill in Eastern Cape

Botes helped to transport two batches of oiled penguins from Port Elizabeth to SANCCOB’s seabird centre in Cape St. Francis during the rescue operation.  

Thanks to the hard work of staff and volunteers at SANCCOB, a second group of African penguins have been successfully rehabilitated and approved for release this weekend by SANCCOB’s veterinary team. The release will take place on Sunday 28 June, at 10h30, at the Seal Point Lighthouse in Cape St. Francis.

The four African penguin chicks are growing into strong, healthy juveniles, weighing more than two kilograms and no longer require feeding at night, but will only be ready for release in a month’s time, when they have replaced all of their down feathers with new, waterproof feathers. One of the chicks has already been designated a ‘Baby Blue’, which means he has lost all of his baby fluff and has been moved out to join the other penguins in the rehabilitation pens. Three of the four chicks are already swimming to regain the natural waterproofing of their feathers.

As a non-profit organisation, SANCCOB is asking the public to support this project by donating funds towards the rehabilitation and hand-rearing costs of the remaining  endangered African penguins and to help ensure they are successfully released back into the wild in the coming weeks. Donations may be made online by visiting www.sanccob.co.za or through an electronic funds transfer to: