Sardines, starving penguins and an urgent need for action
The situation facing our critically endangered African penguins is becoming increasingly desperate.
At the Dyer Island Conservation Trust’s African Penguin and Seabird Sanctuary in Gansbaai, we are witnessing the consequences of a growing food shortage first-hand. We receive daily calls from concerned members of the public reporting weak, emaciated penguins in need of help. Our dedicated rescue team, operating from the Sanctuary, responds to these calls and rescues distressed birds along the coastline, from Kleinmond to Stilbaai.
Some of these penguins weigh as little as 950 grams. These are young adult birds that should be out at sea, feeding and surviving, not fighting for their lives.
Emaciated penguin rescued from Sandbaai beach.
Sardines are a critical food source for African penguins and numerous other marine predators. However, we are struggling to source sardines locally for the birds in our care. Our usual supplier currently has no stock available.
We would also like to extend a huge thank you to SANCCOB, who have generously offered us the opportunity to purchase some of their own sardine supplies. We are incredibly grateful for their willingness to assist us at a time when sourcing fish has become such a challenge.
The picture speaks for itself, empty stomach.
We cannot rehabilitate starving penguins without food.
We have managed to find a supplier who still has sardines available and is willing to sell us one tonne at a cost of approximately R39,100. Securing this fish would provide much-needed food for the penguins in our care. However, we face another challenge: we simply do not have sufficient freezer capacity to store the additional fish.
We urgently need to raise funds to secure this one tonne of sardines and purchase three additional freezers so that we can store and manage emergency fish supplies.
We cannot keep relying on sporadic donations and goodwill while dealing with an ongoing conservation crisis. We need practical support, and we need it now.
The African penguin is Critically Endangered. Every bird matters, and securing a reliable supply of food is essential to our rescue and rehabilitation efforts.
PLEASE HELP US FEED OUR PENGUINS
We are appealing to individuals, businesses and organisations to help us:
- Raise R39,100 to secure one tonne of sardines.
- Purchase three additional freezers to provide the storage capacity needed for emergency fish supplies.
Your donation, however big or small, will make a tangible difference to our ability to care for these birds.
Please donate towards this urgent appeal:
Alternatively, make a direct payment to our account:
African Penguin & Seabird Sanctuary Account Details
Account Name: APSS
Bank: First National Bank
Account Number: 62568492343
Branch: Hermanus (200412)
Account Type: Current Account
SWIFT Code: FIRNZAJJ
Email: [email protected]
Our penguins need fish. We need your help to get it.
We see the reality. We respond every day. But we cannot do it alone.
Dyer Island Conservation Trust
Media enquiries:
Christine Wessels
Can you help feed this little guy?
