Penguins Eastern Cape (PEC) has officially amalgamated with SANCCOB.
Announcing this news today (17 April 2013) Trudi Malan, manager of PEC says this bold step could change the trajectory of the African Penguin’s survival in the Eastern Cape.
From now on the PEC operation in Cape St Francis, next to the CSF lighthouse, will operate under the SANCCOB banner. Malan makes it clear the transition is being made in the interest of the African Penguin and in line with the draft African Penguin Biodiversity Management Plan published for comments during 2012.
“The ultimate survival of the African Penguin will only become a reality if there is a well co-ordinated and consorted effort by all role-players. Fragmentation in the rehabilitation field creates confusion not only among funders but also with the general public,” says Malan.
The primary rationale for the transition is not only to put a longer-term sustainable plan in place for the Cape St Francis facility, and to standardise operating procedures essential for efficient response in the event of oil spills, but also to ensure all the important breeding colonies are included in future research and rehabilitation planning .
The facility rehabilitates seabirds primarily from Bird- and St Croix islands, home to about 60% of breeding African penguins in South Africa, as well as other important seabirds such as Cape Gannets. The breeding islands are part of the Greater Addo National Park and is managed by SANParks (South African National Parks). The excellent working relationship that currently exists between the Cape St. Francis facility and SANParks will continue and be expanded.
SANCCOB is a leading marine non-profit organization with a vision to conserve seabirds and other sea-life, especially threatened species such as the African penguin.
As the mandated government rehabilitation authority in South Africa, SANCCOB protects and treats seabirds affected by major and chronic oil pollution, and shares its specialist skills with the international community, such as providing services in Africa, the Indian Ocean region, and the Sub-Antarctic.
Through its partnership in the Chick Bolstering Project chicks hand-reared at SANCCOB contribute towards research and expertise to hand-rear chicks from eggs is being developed in the Chick Rearing Unit.
Practically speaking, SANCCOB’s rehabilitation footprint will now extend to the Eastern Cape. Existing paid staff will become SANCCOB employees and the invaluable local knowledge of Trudi Malan and some of her other stalwarts will support SANCCOB’s vision and objectives in the region, by providing advice, assistance with fundraising, and by working with the SANCCOB team to ensure a smooth transition.
SANCCOB has a national obligation to respond to oil spills along the South African coastline. Venessa Strauss (SANCCOB’s Conservation Director and head of the Oiled Wildlife Response Unit) is currently working with Trudi, SANParks and other stakeholders in the region to increase the level of preparedness in the event that seabirds are affected by a major oil spill.
This higher level of vigilance and preparedness will be achieved through collaboratively working with stakeholders on planning, designing strategies specific to the area, exercises and training. This is seen as proof that the alliance is already bearing fruit.
Trudi Malan’s final report as chairman of the PEC
The resolution I put before you tonight does mean the end of the road for Penguins Eastern Cape as an entity, but it definitely does not indicate a full stop for penguin rehabilitation and our future involvement in penguin rehabilitation. Penguin rescue and rehabilitation in the Eastern Cape has been a tremendous tale of a group of committed people that were not only willing to walk the extra mile, but that were doing this without real financial support, basically on the smell of an oil rag.
I would like to pay tribute to those early polunteers (a mix of pioneers and volunteers) who so diligently got on with the job of getting the penguins back to sea:
In the 60s and 70s, the only penguin rehabilitation centre, SANCCOB, was situated in Cape Town in the Western Cape.
- In the Eastern Cape, birds in distress were taken in, treated and released by individuals like Rosalie Oosthuizen from St Francis Bay. Her walks down to the beach with a bunch of penguins in tow remain a legend.
- A large number of the stranded penguins were passed on to the Port Elizabeth Oceanarium, now known as Bayworld for treatment, rehabilitation and release. Although the primary focus of Bayworld has always been education, research and tourism, they took to the task of rehabilitation like a penguin to sardines.
- Dr Dave Hartley – one of the unsung heroes of penguin rehabilitation who passed away in 2003. If I read through his scribbled pencilled notes on his various findings and observations I do wish that we had more time with him to formalise his findings.
- Chrystal Hartley – who was always in charge of the practical side of the rehabilitation project. The feeding, cleaning, organising of volunteers and the general well-being of the birds.
- The Jeffreys Bay Penguin Volunteers – for 23 years they just got on with the job.
- Trumie Viljoen & family – I don’t always know if the family part were willing volunteers, but with a driving force, or should I say talking force like Trumie, who can stay on the side line.
- Dr Nerine Botha and Dr Barry Bousfield for giving so much of their time without ever demanding payment.
- The original group of volunteers that started under the Ajubatus name,those who has moved on or is otherwise engaged and those who are all still involved today under Penguins Eastern Cape. I know you are not looking for a commendation, but you deserve one.
- The extremely dedicated staff, Xolani, Mervin and Xolisa. Without you we would have been like an un-waterproof penguin, not functional.
- To the SANParks Marine Rangers – I don’t believe that people outside of the penguin field understand the difference that this group under the leadership of Guy Padayachee, ably assisted by Roget Fox and Henvik Visser, has made. I know that it wasn’t an easy task in SANParks, an organisation that is used to dealing with terrestrial animals to bring the plight of the African Penguin to the fore and to ensure budgetary support. But I do believe that you have made giant inroads in getting the African Penguin recognised as a species in need of protection.
Nobody would ever be able to fault us on the level of care that we provided to the various African Penguins that were the lucky recipients of a second change. Believe me when I say that it was not an easy decision to let go of this task, but it is the right decision. I have always maintained that penguin rehabilitation is not a “bunny-hugging” exercise. It is an active conservation action with real benefits for the wild population and the ultimate survival of the species.
It is through the great effort of all the role players that the Draft African Penguin Biodiversity Plan was published and we hope it will soon be signed into law. It was important for the rehabilitation arm of the plan to get their proverbial penguins in a row and to become the professional group that we have always aspired to be. Fundraising, marketing and education has become a vital part of the rehabilitation wheel and it is impossible for a small group of volunteers to add all these tasks onto their already overburdend load. The fragmentation in the field of penguin rehabilitation does not contribute to the survival of the species.
At the present time where we are dealing with a plummeting population we no longer have the time for personal politics or a confused public. Cliched as it may be, united we stand divided we fall. As the longest operating penguin rehabilitation group in the Eastern Cape, we made the decision to take a bold step that will change the trajectory of the African Penguin’s survival in the Eastern Cape, as we amalgamate our facility with SANCCOB.
The primary rationale for the transition is not only to put a longer-term sustainable plan in place for the Cape St Francis facility, and to standardise operating procedures essential for efficient response in the event of oil spills but also to ensure that all the important breeding colonies are included in future research and rehabilitation planning.
Unfortunately SANCCOB’s Executive Director, Margaret Roestorf, could not be here tonight, but she did ask me to convey the following message: “SANCCOB has only high praise for the work which PEC and the Jeffreys Bay Penguin Rehabilitation Centre (as they were previously known) have done for penguin conservation. For the last 29 years this small team has worked long hours to sustain the excellent services which the facility provided. We thank the Penguins Eastern Cape advisory board, management and dedicated volunteers for the trust they have put in SANCCOB to take their vision forward, and commend them for the decades of vigilance to keep penguins in the Eastern Cape safe.”
I thank you – Trudi Malan
Support needed
As Penguins Eastern Cape we could always rely on our supporters to ensure that we raise the much needed funding to keep the centre operational and the penguins afloat. I would like to make a special appeal to all our wonderful funders to continue with this support. SANCCOB has risen to their national mandate by taking on the responsibility for the Eastern Cape.
We now need to show them that they have our support to enable them to fulfill this mandate. I am therefore making an appeal to all our supporters, please show them that we will support them in the ultimate plight to save our seabirds by contributing to the cause.
Visit the web site at http://www.sanccob.co.za to see the variety of ways that you can contribute to the cause. You can also “like” them on Facebook and join them on Twitter. The Eastern Cape is a wonderful and amazing place, let us stand up and show our new family exactly how great the Eastern Cape can be and that we are more than willing to pull our weight in the greater penguin family.
The yearly operational budget for PEC was R350 000. My challenge to you is that we raise this amount as lobola payment to SANCCOB.
SANCCOB Bank details:
Bank: First National Bank
Branch: Table View
Branch Code: 203 809
Account No: 59 23 713 5859
Account Type: Current Account
(edited)
All articles edited or written, all photos taken plus all adverts designed by the Editor and printed in the St Francis Chronicle are protected by the law of Copyright ©. Reproduction or copying of any part of the contents of this newspaper and its concept and design can only be done with the Editor’s written permission.
St Francis Chronicle 