Rebuilding the African Penguin Population

With the very first National Marine Protected Areas Day coming up on the 1st of August, #EveryPenguinCounts, writes Trudi Malan, conservation manager of the African Penguin and Seabird Sanctuary.

 

Disappearing Lines

 

The African penguin is disappearing from the landscape everywhere in Southern Africa but the situation on Dyer Island is dire. Once home to a vibrant African penguin colony with an estimated 25 000 breeding pairs in the early 1970’s, the numbers have dwindled to less than a 1 000 breeding pairs today. The current South African population is an estimated 13 500 breeding pairs. The rescue, rehabilitation and release of every single penguin makes a crucial contribution to the conservation of the species. We are at the stage where #EveryPenguinCounts.

 

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GUIDE TO SEABIRDS OF SOUTHERN AFRICA by Peter Ryan

The African Penguin and Seabird Sanctuary (APSS), a project of the Dyer Island Conservation Trust, is based in Gansbaai and is focused on rebuilding the Dyer Island African penguin population. The APSS turned six years old in February 2021 and conservation manager Trudi Malan looked back at what APSS has contributed to the hopeful recovery of this endangered species.

 

Hope is a Feather…

 

 

During the past six years we have rehabilitated and released 675 African penguins. (283 Adults and 392 Chicks). The 283 adult African penguins that we saved could each have a partner on Dyer Island – that is potentially 14.15% of the breeding population. These saved birds could contribute a total of 517 chicks to the population over 5 years.

 

If we did not step in to rescue the 392 chicks, there would be 73 less pairs of adult breeders (at four years of age) recruiting to Dyer Island. Low odds, we know, but this outcome is under the current depressive scenario with no other pro-active interventions.

 

We are hoping that the pro-active actions of habitat restoration via the artificial nest project aimed at improving fledgling success, predator management and ongoing consultations with the fishing industry to close some fishing areas around the breeding colonies will help us to change the current scenario into one where we can stabilise the population and hope for better outcomes.

 

 

 

 

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Education Brings Change

 

We are very thankful that we’ve been able to share the plight of the African penguin with around 108 000 people who’ve visited the APSS over the past six years. Our educational programme at APSS engages with over 3 000 local learners annually, and we’ve reached thousands more through outreach initiatives at schools. Through our tourism partners, such as Dyer Island Cruises, we have preached the message of conservation to thousands of visitors to the region from near and far.

 

 

 

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The APSS would not be able to care for penguins if we did not have a platoon of people passionate about penguins. We have a small, dedicated staff and a team of hardworking volunteers. Project partners, like Marine Dynamics and Dyer Island Cruises, provide valuable educational opportunities and the best penguin taxi service imaginable. All weaved together into a strong penguin support network.