Oiled and injured African penguins Spheniscus demersus and other seabirds admitted for rehabilitation in the Western Cape, South Africa, 2001 and 2002

Abstract

Following the Treasure oil spill incident in 2000 in which 19 000 African penguins Spheniscus demersus were oiled, there were no large spills in either 2001 or 2002. In spite of this, the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB) admitted 1 772 African penguins in these two years; 56% of these were oiled in ongoing chronic oiling incidents. Most admissions were in the winter (June–September). The overall release rate was 73%. In addition, 661 Hartlaub's gulls Larus hartlaubii (release rate 65%), 384 Cape cormorants Phalacrocorax capensis (40%), 245 Cape gannets Morus capensis (64%), 122 kelp gulls L. dominicanus (48%) and 140 other birds of 30 identified species were admitted. The total number of birds admitted was 3 202, or 4.4 birds per day. Even in years without large spills, SANCCOB makes a substantial contribution to the conservation of seabirds.

African Journal of Marine Science 2005, 27(1): 289–296