More than 800 endangered African penguin chicks have been saved from starvation in South Africa. They were cared for and fed, after being left without parents, by volunteers from the Chick Bolstering Project, a partnership with the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB). They were underweight and in grave danger of death.
He is about to end up run over, his mother saves him
More than 800 African penguin chicks, an endangered animal, were saved from starvation in South Africa. They were looked after and fed, after being left without parents, dai volontari del progetto Chick Bolstering Project, una partnership con il Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB). Eranus underweight and in serious danger of death.
Colonies of African penguins, or Cape penguins, are dwindling at an alarming rate. The current population is only 2,5% of its 80-year-old level. Overfishing and the movement of fish stocks away from colonies has led to a shortage of food. There were about 1956 breeding pairs in 150.000, but last year the number dropped to just 19.000 - a loss of nearly 90% in half a century.
For chicks, abandonment before they reach the age of plumage is a real danger, with the cold causing the greatest problem for their survival. Climate change is also to blame, as we explained. Not only indirectly is depriving them of food, but it also directly causes them to perish under terrible storms or exceptional heat waves.
Dr Christoph Schqitzer, research manager of the Bristol Zoological Society, he explains:
“This is a great effort for conserve an endangered species and each chick is of vital importance. Without the intervention of conservation organizations, these chicks would have starved to death. The African penguin is in a downward spiral due to the lack of food near nesting colonies, and there is a substantial risk that this species could definitively become extinct ".
The rescued chicks will now undergo a rehabilitation period for up to three months, until they reach optimal health and weight. They will then be released.
To adopt a penguin from a distance click here.
If, on the other hand, you like to knit, it's possible help the little penguins also by making sweaters.
Roberta Ragni
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