Sanccob released its first group of rehabilitated African penguins at Bird Island (Port Elizabeth) this month.
SANParks authorised the go ahead for the release after the weather had cleared.
On the morning of 6 June 2013, 26 healthy African penguins underwent their last pre-release checks, received their last meal from the Sanccob bird rehabilitator team, were given a temporary pink spray on the chest and then transported to the Port Elizabeth harbour. The non-toxic pink spray is used to temporarily mark recently released penguins so staff and colony managers can identify them. Most of the birds were admitted to Sanccob from Bird Island a few weeks ago as chicks that were abandoned by their parents.
Once at the harbour boxes containing the penguins were loaded on to a ferry boa, destined for Bird Island. The winter seas made for a bumpy 1-and-a-half-hour boat ride but this was the last little hurdle before freedom for these African penguins.
En route to the island the team was greeted by a pod of around 200 bottlenose dolphins. On arrival each box was carried to the beach and carefully tipped to release each penguin with a pink-spotted chest.
The adults were the first to head straight out to sea with the juveniles following their lead into the big Indian Ocean. The spray will wash off in the next few days and by then the Sanccob team trusts that the first group of rehabilitated penguins will have fully integrated back into their colony at Bird Island.
Sanccob is now running the penguin rehabilitation centre in Cape St Francis after its amalgamation with Penguins Eastern Cape earlier this year.
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