SCHOOL LEARNS ABOUT MARINE POLLUTIONOctober 13, 2010 by dyertrustSheraine fromOverstrand Conservation Foundationwho run the eco-school programme, brought 30 pupils from Okkie Smuts School (Stanford) to theDyer Island Cruiseswhale room where they learnt all about marine pollution and its devastating impacts on our marine life before heading down to Kleinbaai harbour for the clean up.On their return the waste collected was weighed [...]
STRANDED RISSO DOLPHIN RESCUEDOctober 12, 2010 by dyertrustAs the animal rescue centre in our area, every day can hold new surprises. Saturday, 9th October, local residents, Alida Olivier and Eddie Enrico were out on the rocks at Haaiklip (Franskraal) when they came across a stranded dolphin. The local paper, the Courant, was contacted, who in turn contacted the Trust.The dolphin, a [...]
RARE SOUTHERN ELEPHANT SEALOctober 11, 2010 by dyertrustThe Dyer Island Conservation Trust received a call from Lucinda Verwey in Vermont (Hermanus) regarding an injured seal at Vermont.It turned out to be a juvenileSouthern Elephant seal(Mirounga leonina), a rare visitor to South Africas shores. Apart from a small injury it was in good condition.There was a small wound on the right hand [...]
VOORTREKKER SCHOOL SUPPORT THE ENDANGERED AFRICAN PENGUINOctober 10, 2010 by dyertrustEvery year, the Voortrekkers Grade 7s enjoy an educational time at the African penguin colony at Stony Point (Bettys Bay). Led by educator Danna Smith and her team, the children get to learn all they can about this endangered species.They also support the Dyer Island Conservation TrustFaces of Need penguin nest [...]
MARINE BIG 5 EXHIBITION AT HERMANUS WHALE FESTIVALOctober 09, 2010 by dyertrustThe Hermanus Whale Festival proved a great place to promote the work of the Dyer Island Conservation Trust. The festival organizers sponsored our Marine Big 5 exhibition and the Old Harbour Museum agreed we could use the space outside the whale museum. The Festival was 5 days in total this [...]
LIVE STREAMING FROM WHALE FESTIVALSeptember 30, 2010 by dyertrustUPDATE - 30 September - The Marine tent at the Whale Festival was a huge hit and the live streaming was viewed via our different websites from people all over the world - thank you. We hope to post each talk on our DICT YouTube channel shortly.Marine Dynamicsand Dyer Island Conservation Trustwill be [...]
INTERNATIONAL COASTAL CLEAN UPSeptember 29, 2010 by dyertrustDyer Island Conservation Trust recently joined forces with Overstrand Municipality Gansbaai Administration in placing unique fishing line disposal bins.Biologist Katja Vinding Petersen and I headed out on International Coastal Clean Up Day to visit the local angling shops and boat clubs to spread the word. The response has been overwhelmingly positive and the community [...]
HUMPBACK WHALE SAMPLINGSeptember 28, 2010 by dyertrustA call was received telling us about a washed up whale at a nearby stretch of beach called Die Plaat.The crew headed off to gather samples which we send to Mammal Research Institute (University of Pretoria) and Oceans and Coasts (Department of Environmental Affairs).It was a juvenile humpback male whale, 10.2m long. Although it was [...]
SEVERE ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE CAUSED BY FISHING LINESSeptember 27, 2010 by dyertrustThe Dyer Island Conservation Trust (DICT) in association with Overstrand Municipality, Gansbaai Administration, is very excited to be establishing the Fishing Line Recovery and Recycling Program (FLRRP) along the Gansbaai shoreline, with specially designed disposal bins.This innovative project aims to reduce the severe environmental damage caused by discarded fishing line on [...]
OILED AND INJURED PENGUINS OFF DYER ISLANDSeptember 26, 2010 by dyertrustThis August the Dyer Island Conservation Trust has rescued eight oiled penguins. It is not always possible to identify the source of the oilit could be from old wrecks still seeping oil or more likely an illegal dumping. Another three penguins have been taken in with shark bite injuries.The Trust serves [...]