The South African plastics and packaging industries managed to raise an incredible R45 000 during last week’s Propak Cape Exhibition by inviting companies and individuals to pledge funds for a much needed seabird hospital at SANCCOB’s Cape Town centre. According to Douw Steyn, Sustainability Director at Plastics|SA, leaders in the packaging industry and individuals did not … [Read more...]
99% of all seabirds will have ingested plastic by 2050
Most seabirds have already eaten plastic in the oceans, and scientists project that 99 percent will have done so by 2050. Plastics are pervasive in the world's waters due to pollution, and birds - including albatrosses, penguins and gulls - can mistake brightly colored bottle tops or other fragments for food. Birds can become sick and die if they ingest too much … [Read more...]
Tracking African Penguins’ breeding patterns
Numbers of African Penguins (Spheniscus demersus) in South Africa have decreased drastically in the last decade, due to a lack of food. Breeding penguins are central place foragers, and studies over the last decade have shown that breeding adults need to find sufficient food within ca 50 km of their colonies in order to breed successfully. Outside the breeding season adults … [Read more...]
Penguin Waddle for love of the web-footed
The message was clear: ‘Hoot for Penguins!’ and Cape Town obliged on a recent Saturday morning. All along the Main Road - from Surfer’s Corner in Muizenberg to Boulder’s Beach in Simon’s Town - a large group of waddlers walked the talk in the name of penguin preservation. From four-year olds to senior citizens, the level of excitement and pride the entire way was contagious, … [Read more...]
Waddling for the penguins
The Two Oceans Aquarium will join a number of facilities around the country to celebrate International African Penguin Day on 13 October 2012. The day is dedicated to raising awareness of the plight of the African penguin. It is estimated that only 60 000 of these birds remain in the wild and that they could be extinct within the next 15 years. A number of activities will … [Read more...]
Waddle you do to help save the African penguin?
Numbers of the African penguin, which is endemic to South Africa and Namibia, are rapidly declining. Perhaps most of us aren't aware of this, but African penguins are up against climate change, overfishing, oil pollution and penguin egg and guano collection. Less than 5% of the original population remains. In the past half-century, numbers have declined by 80%. In the last … [Read more...]
Discover nature at biodiversity expo
Learn about endangered turtles, ornithology careers, Africans penguins and many other fascinating members of our earth at the Biodiversity Expo from 5 to 8 May at Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden. With over 30 exhibitors plus a conservation challenge and important discussions this is the platform to learn about biodiversity and its practical applications. Endangered … [Read more...]
South African birds in trouble
Of the 9 856 bird species on Earth, 1 226 are listed as Critically Endangered, Endangered or Vulnerable. Forty of these occur in South Africa and of these 20 are endemic. Although extinction is a natural phenomenon, species are now disappearing from our planet at an alarming rate, and studies have shown that this is mostly driven by human activities. The International Union … [Read more...]
