Thanks to a grant from the Disney Conservation Fund (DCF) that allows us to deploy a specialised seabird ranger on Dyer Island, the African penguins and other seabirds on Dyer Island now have an extra pair of eyes to watch over them. DCF grant recipients are selected based on their efforts to implement comprehensive community wildlife conservation programs, stabilise, and increase populations of at-risk animals and engage communities in conservation in critical ecosystems around the world. Disney Conservation Fund (DCF) and the Dyer Island Conservation Trust are working together to protect the magic of nature for future generations to enjoy.
Eduard Drost was appointed as the Dyer Island Specialised seabird ranger in December 2021. Eduard is no newcomer to seabird island living, he spent two years as the seabird ranger on Bird Island in Algoa Bay, where he worked as part of the SANCCOB/SANParks team. He has a M.Sc in Biological Oceanography from the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University. He started his academic career at the University of Johannesburg with a degree in B.Sc. Zoology & Environmental Management, followed by his B.Sc. Honours, Environmental Science. Eduard is a fully trained penguin rehabilitator, this means that he can administer emergency care, and continue with the rehabilitation process until such time that a “penguin ambulance” can be dispatch to take the patient to the African Penguin and Seabird Sanctuary.He is an avid photographer and whilst on Bird Island he often made birders countrywide jealous with the sighting of rare birds. We hope that he will continue to provide us with some twitcher excitement.