NSRI Heroes Help Release Rehabilitated Cape Gannet at Sea

Photo Credit: Canva

The week that started with a boat ride back to freedom…

Durban, KwaZulu-Natal (25 June 2026) – A rehabilitated Cape gannet was given a very special release back into the ocean this week.

After weeks of care at CROW – that came with fish dinners and a window to strengthen up – a Cape gannet that had been found in a bad way on the KZN coast has officially made its way back to sea!

The seabird was found on Salt Rock beach and taken to CROW towards the end of May. It was weak, tired and looked undernourished.

To make sure there wasn’t something more serious going on, the bird was taken for X-rays. CROW said the checks were done to rule out possible wing breaks or an obstruction in the bird’s throat, like a fish hook, but thankfully everything came back clear.

From there, the focus shifted to making sure the seabird patient got enough rest, recovery and a load of sardines.

According to CROW, the gannet was fed twice a day and given access to a pond where it could swim and get its feathers waterproofed again while being cared for by staff and volunteers. Slowly but surely, it regained its strength and reached the point where it was ready to go home.

That’s when the NSRI in Durban stepped in to help make the release happen.

Just after 6:30am on Monday morning, NSRI Durban launched its rescue craft Spirit of Surfski 6 with a CROW team, three international volunteers and one very important passenger on board.

Etienne van Zyl, NSRI Durban station commander, said the bird was taken about half a nautical mile offshore before being released at sea in what turned into a successful and heartwarming operation.

Once back in the water, the Cape gannet was monitored for a while as it waded and exercised its wings, giving everyone onboard a chance to see that it was settling back into the ocean exactly as hoped.