Oiled penguins rescued off Cape Coast

By Yamkela Xhaso
13 August

Eighty endangered African penguins have been found covered with oil for the past three weeks.

The penguins are thought to have been swimming through the oil waste which was illegally dumped by containers at sea.

The South African Foundation for the Conversation of Coastal birds (Sanccob) , have admitted the penguins which were rescued by Cape Nature.

Sanccob head Vanessa Strauss said that the birds were propably oiled due chronic oiling.

“Once they get to the centre, we have to stabilise them first by giving them hydration fluids and give them food to ragain their strength”

“One other thing the washing process is very stressful for the birds, once they have been washed, when the oil is clean from the feathers, we can start the rehabilitation process”


Strauss added, “once the birds are waterproofed, they wait for their blood that was evaluated until they are strong enough to walk again.

Strauss said that the Sanccob organisation is a non profit organisation which is looking for funding. Anyone interested can go log onto www.sanccob.co.za