Southern African Foundation Opens New Penguin Nursery To Strengthen Conservation Of Endangered Species

The Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB) has officially opened the Pamela Isdell Seabird Nursery at SANCCOB in Table View, Cape Town.

The nursery is a new facility focused on the incubation, hatching and hand-rearing of African penguin eggs and chicks. The launch marks a significant step in conservation efforts for the critically endangered species.

According to Ground Up, the facility also offers educational tours to spread awareness of African penguins and the threats the species faces.

The nursery expands on SANCCOB’s Chick Rearing Unit, which was deemed inadequate to incubate eggs due to space and required hygiene standards. The unit has been central to SANCCOB’s Chick Bolstering Programme since 2011. Recognised in South Africa’s Biodiversity Management Plan for the African Penguin, the programme has admitted nearly 12 000 chicks to date with over 82% released back into the wild.

The nursery now doubles SANCCOB’s capacity to incubate and hand-rear African penguin eggs and chicks.

Constructed at a cost of R7 million, the facility was developed through donor contributions, most notably from its namesake, late Pamela Isdell, a former SANCCOB Board director and supporter of African penguin conservation.