The Port Elizabeth branch of SANCCOB is raising funds to pay for a state-of-the-art swimming pool to help rehabilitate seabirds.
Port Elizabeth, South Africa – The Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB) is a leading marine-orientated non-profit organisation in South Africa, experts and internationally recognised leaders in oiled wildlife response, rehabilitation and chick-rearing.
They have treated more than 90 000 oiled, ill, injured or abandoned endangered African penguins and other threatened seabirds since being established in 1968.
Their premises in Port Elizabeth is raising money for a much-needed swimming pool. The new state-of-the-art rehabilitation pool with six associated pens for seabird patients is already under construction. The new structure will provide a more efficient space for birds and day to day seabird conservation work, and accommodate an improved flow of seabirds undergoing rehabilitation.
“With your support, we can ensure that our Port Elizabeth centre has the most suitable amenities to rehabilitate seabird species admitted from South Africa’s east coast; mostly rescued from St Croix and Bird islands, where the largest populations of endangered African penguins and Cape gannets are found in the country. Swimming strengthens the birds and is a critical step for the waterproofing of their plumage.”
“If you donate today then you will be a partner in our lifesaving conservation work to reverse the decline of Southern African seabirds.”
In July of this year, a large number of oil-soaked seabirds were admitted to the rescue centre. About 200 to 400 litres of oil was spilt during the refuelling of the MV Chrysanthi S by SA Marine Fuels near the Port of Ngqura, 20km north-east of Port Elizabeth. SANCCOB took in over 60 penguins.
“With more than half of the global population of African penguins facing threats such as oil spill events, disease and lack of fish, we are pulling out all the stops to make sure we continue to provide a place of healing and rehabilitation with specialist veterinary care.
SANCCOB’s Build-A-Pool initiative target is R100,000 to supplement funding and is an opportunity for members of the public, corporates, trusts and foundations, and companies to donate and partner with us to complete the project.
R100,000 is *just R100 from 1 000 givers! That’s all it takes and we are counting on you to help us reach the mark.”
If you would like to support their swimming pool initiative, you can donate here.
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