Support SANCCOB’s conservation efforts by adopting an African penguin egg this Easter, helping to save this endangered species from the brink of extinction.
Western Cape, South Africa (30 March 2024) – Easter weekend is here. As many of us look forward to indulging in chocolate eggs and spending time with loved ones, this year, you can make Easter even more meaningful by adopting an African penguin egg and contributing to the conservation of this endangered species.
Yes, you read that right – you can literally save a species this Easter!
The Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB) is reaching out to South Africa and the global community for support. They are raising funds to expand their Chick Rearing Unit (CRU), where they artificially incubate and hatch endangered African penguin eggs. The ultimate goal is to hand-rear these chicks and release them back into the wild, thereby bolstering the declining population.
Over the past seven years, SANCCOB has observed a worrying increase in the number of African penguin eggs and chicks admitted to their facility. This rise can be attributed to a variety of factors, including food scarcity and extreme weather events linked to climate change.
Ronnis Daniels, SANCCOB’s resources manager, highlighted the severity of the situation, stating, “The population has plunged to less than 10,000 breeding pairs in 2024, meaning there is only 1% left of the 1 million that were in existence a century earlier.”
“At the current trajectory, which is an 8% loss every year, we are looking at extinction by 2035,” Daniels explained to the media. “There won’t be enough for the wild population to save itself.”
Commercial fishing emerges as the main threat to African penguins. The depletion of sardines and anchovies – the penguins’ primary food source – has had devastating consequences for the species.
Daniels lamented, “The sad part is that fish is exported mostly as fishmeal.”
In addition to overfishing, the birds face other challenges, such as noise and pollution from shipping routes, especially around South Africa’s Algoa Bay, where ships often stop to refuel.
How You Can Help
This Easter, SANCCOB invites you to “Adopt an Egg” for just R300 / $16 / £13 / €15. By doing so, you will contribute to the egg’s incubation until it is ready to hatch, bringing a new chick into the world. The SANCCOB team will then hand-rear the chick for three to four months until it is waterproof and strong enough to be released back into the wild. This initiative aligns with SANCCOB’s core objective of bolstering the wild African penguin population.
While you won’t have the opportunity to name the penguin you’ve helped, you will undoubtedly feel a sense of pride knowing that you’ve played a part in conserving this endangered species.
This Easter, let’s move beyond traditional celebrations and embrace a more meaningful way of giving. By adopting an African penguin egg, you can contribute to the conservation efforts aimed at saving this iconic species from extinction.
Adopt an egg today and make this Easter truly unforgettable!
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