Not only human lives are saved by NSRI volunteers but wildlife as well and recently as last week an albatross was set free in the sea near Robben Island by these heroes who risk life and limb to help others.
The penguin bird rehabilitation organisation, Sanccob, asked the crew at Station 3 Table Bay if they could assist in releasing an albatross back into the wild. Sanccob agreed to deliver the bird to the NSRI base so that crew could release it during a routine training exercise.
The albatross was delivered in a big crate and was taken about three miles west of Robben Island. The crew called him Carlos.
“He sat quietly in his crate the whole journey and didn’t struggle or flap around when we opened it,” the crew members related.
“He was gently placed into the water off the swimmers’ platform and bobbed around for a bit. He drank some sea water, got sick and then drank some more. After that he started preening himself. We figured he was fine and we returned to base.”
Photos by Kim Germishuys and Robyn Silverstone.
(edited by Bev Mortimer)
Follow St Francis Chronicle on Twitter: @stfranchronicle
All articles edited or written, all photos taken plus all adverts designed by the Editor and printed in the St Francis Chronicle are protected by the law of Copyright ©. Reproduction or copying of any part of the contents of this newspaper and its concept and design can only be done with the Editor’s written permission.
