VIDEO: ‘Operation Luderitz’ a Success for Oiled African Penguins

Following a plea for help from the Namibian Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources to assist in saving the lives of 129 oiled African penguins off the coast of Luderitz in Namibia, internationally recognized seabird rehabilitator, the South African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB) mobilized its team of experts and volunteers to move the penguins 1,300km to their centre in Cape Town for essential treatment.

African penguins are listed as 'vulnerable' to extinction on the IUCN Red Data list and there are only 27,000 breeding pairs of these charismatic birds left, down from 4 million within the last century.

The oiled penguins are the result of an oil spill from an unknown source around the Mercury, Ichaboe, Halifax and Possession islands just off the coast of Luderitz. Poor visibility, heavy mists and high swell have made it impossible to determine the cause of the oiling, but according to Jessica Kemper, seabird biologist at the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources, 'the water around Mercury Island was frothy with foam' on Thursday last week and 'our island technician based there could smell the oil'.

Jessica Kemper and SANCCOB CEO, Venessa Strauss, monitored the situation as it developed and on Thursday, 16 April 2009 last week they reached a joint decision to move the birds to SANCCOB rehabilitation centre in Cape Town which is equipped to handle up to 2,000 oiled birds.

On Monday (20 April) Vanesssa flew up to spearhead the evacuation and to assist Jessica to assess the situation and drove back in the truck with the penguins. Jessica was working from the Ministry's small seabird rehabilitation station and a shed which had been turned into a makeshift holding pen and was working around the clock with a handful of staff and volunteers to stabilize the penguins in readiness for their epic journey to Cape Town. Due to the working relationship between SANCCOB and the Namibian government, Jessica had essential medication available to perform the initial treatment to save the penguins.

After 19 hours of non-strop traveling Venessa arrived at SANCCOB triumphant where she immediately joined her colleagues to get the 'Namibian patients' admitted.

It is expected that the penguins will be fully recovered in about two week’s time. The rehabilitation process at SANCCOB includes feeding twice daily, hydrating the penguins with an electrolyte solution and a weekly veterinary evaluation that consists of taking a blood sample, weighing and a waterproof feather test. Once the penguins are ready for release, they will be released from a beach in Cape Town and it is anticipated that they will swim back to their original breeding colonies in Namibia.

The rescue of these ‘vulnerable’ to extinction African penguins could not have been done without the generous support of our partner, the International Fund for Animal Welfare.

The text of this report was filed by Margaret Roestorf from SANCCOB.

Comments

[KUKA´S WORLD]

COOL BLOG!!!!!!!
:)

[Sabrina]

I'd like to know where the oil came from. Is anyone looking?

[dave]

i did not know there was penuigs in africa
where about as it would be far to hot for them?

[jeannette gravett]

Lovely story - well done all!

[GMB]

There are penguins in in the south western part of Africa. One of the few permanent colonies is easy to visit and is near Simonstown just outside Cape Town. The cold Atlantic sea currents in the west and south mean we have penguins, seals, dolphins and whales. People come from all over the world see see the whales and penguins. Jill - Cape Town

[Daniel Barker]

It is obvious we need to end the dependency on petroleum! As long as we have oil tankers, we will have accidents.

We can buy electric vehicles, ride a bicycle.

When we stop using oil, we will stop disasters such as this from happening again.

[Dalia E. Hettfield]

Awww! They look so cute and they stay very quiet in their boxes waiting for the lady to bring them out.
They look like kids at the Care Center waiting for their lunch. Beautiful!!!

[peggy malone]

What a tragic story and then grateful for your dedication to rescue them..

[moon4greenpeace]

Why don't they just truck the penguins back home....better yet>>> airlift them. They are just as or more important than humans who created the mess in the first place with the oil spill.

[Gillian Van Wyk]

Lovely to hear of these successes among so many problems. I hope the birds have a long and happy life, lets work at cleaning up our beaches all over the world.

[PG]

When are humans going to stop being such gluttons on the expense of all other living creatures. Thank goodness for some of you caring souls. We have to start caring enough about all life on this earth before everything disappears.

[cris colombi]

txs x all

[beautifulwoman2]

This is wonderful, thank you to the people who are caring for these animals, may God bless u one and all.

[bridget charles]

WHY SHOULD THEY WANT TO DISTROY THESE GORGEOUS BIRDS THEY NEED A LIFE JUST AS WE DO;I ADORE THEM VERY MUCH PLEASE SAVE AS MUCH LIFES AS POSSIBLE
THANK YOU

[Kimbelry S Lewis]

We have more than a moral responsibility to these animals. They are a part of us. We make buildings, pollute water, destroy their food supplies, then destroy natural wildlife habitats for our rather selfish way of life. We would not treat our family and friends this way. So, we especially should not treat the innocent animals that have no protection from us, this way. We should be their guardians and protect them and ensure their wellbeing as much as we try to ensure ours. Thanks to everyone who gave these animals a part of themselves. God Bless.

[lnda y ongania]

thank you sanccob for all the wonderful work you do.

sincerely,

linda y

[Mary Smith]

PEOPLE LIKE YOU GIVE THESE ANIMALS NEW HOPE - THAT - IS - PRICELESS!!

[Soozin]

This is a marvelous story of compassion in the face of adversity.

To Dave: Many species of penguins live in hot or tropical climates.

[Cathy Wilde]

What a wonderful rescue! It has done my heart good to read this, after reading so many horror stories about cruelty to animals. Well done to all concerned!

[kim]

I just dont understand how some people can be mean and so cruel to aminals it breaks my heart .Then you have the ones that care . This story touches my heart

[Claire]

God gave us these all life including animals to care for. I thank you for being there for these precious lives.

[sharyn shubert]

Thank God for the good people in this world.

[Carrie]

Thank you!

[Sally]

Such a lovely story, to hear of these beautiful penguins being rescued from this otherwise awful fate.
It is so important to clean them & give them all the necessary health care before they are released.
Thank you to these people for saving these precious penguins.
SALLY DIX

[onyenwe oti]

Penguins by their very nature are vulnerable.That these ones are in Africa would sure require red alert protection if possible by the UN.

[Jani TW]

Who will protect the animals, if not us (the human being)...?

[Ann]

There really are samaritans in this world. Let us all hope that more people will take action.

[Hester Louw = South Africa]

Thanks to the people that take care of the Penguins to clean them and to give them back their life.