THREATS AND CONSERVATION INTERVENTIONS: THE (CRITICALLY) ENDANGERED AFRICAN PENGUIN

Dr Katta Ludynia, research manager, SANCCOB

Saturday 25 January 10.00–11.00 am

MEETING POINT The entrance to Boulders Beach at 9.15 am

EXCURSION FEES R150; Staff and students R100 (excluding Boulders Beach’s entrance fees: see below) Maximum number of participants 20

African penguins are at risk of extinction in the wild. Boulders Beach in Simon’s Town is one of the last remaining breeding colonies in South Africa. This site plays an important role in African penguin conservation. As one of only two major land-based colonies, it faces many challenges, including land-based predators, human disturbance and road kill, in addition to other threats such as the lack of fish to eat and climate change. However, it also presents many opportunities, as management interventions such as fishing restrictions, habitat restoration and the rescue of eggs and chicks have proven to be successful for penguin conservation. As one of the main tourist attractions in South Africa, this colony also provides an important income for both the local community and the country.

 

This excursion is related to the course on page 128.

 

Entrance fees at Boulders Beach

  • South African residents: R50     SADC nationals: R100    All other nationalities: R215
  • Green and Wild card holders: free with ID or passport

 

Recommended reading

Mnyekemfu, M. et al. 2023. Deducing breeding success from automated transponder reader data to reduce disturbance. Ostrich 94: pp. 117–123. https://doi.org/10.2989/00306525.2023.2247167

Pichegru, L. et al. 2024. Decades of artificial nests towards African Penguin conservation – have they made a difference? https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.pg4f4qrzw

Pichegru, L. et al. 2022. Maritime traffic trends around the southern tip of Africa – Did maritime noise pollution contribute to the local penguins’ collapse? Science of the Total Environment. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.157878

Sherley, R.B. et al. 2024. Commercial fishery no-take zones for African penguins minimise fisheries’ losses at the expense of conservation gains. ICES Journal of Marine Science. https://doi.org/10.1093/icesjms/fsae109

www.birdlife.org.za; www.sanccob.co.za

TO BOOK: https://www.webtickets.co.za/v2/performance.aspx?itemid=1554653168