AFRICAN PENGUINS NEED YOUR HELP!

Copy of "Surf report" by Angela Key

African Penguin sliding towards extinction

Watching a glistening penguin emerge from the sea at Stony Point, you can't help but be enchanted.

We might be the last generation to witness such moments. Colonies of penguins around our coast are shrinking at an alarming rate. In the past 50 years, the population has crashed by a staggering 80%. 150 000 pairs were counted in 1956. In 2009, 26 000 pairs were counted. That's equivalent to losing 90 birds a week, every week since 1956.

Dr Ross Wanless, Seabird Division Manager for BirdLife South Africa, warns that these shrinking populations make colonies particularly vulnerable: bad weather, seal predation & even seagulls taking eggs, are potentially disastrous. "In large, healthy populations, these events were trivial. Now a fierce gale can have serious consequences. We're almost at the point of managing individual birds."

Turning the Tide
The greatest threat facing the African Penguin is starvation. Penguins have to compete with commercial fisheries who also target sardines and anchovies. But it's not just diminishing fish stocks. The effects of climate change on sea temperatures, oil pollution and new constructions, like the proposed PetroSA refinery at Algoa Bay could have a devastating impact on the breeding colonies at Bird Island & St Croix, home to the largest number of African Penguins globally.

On Wednesday 26 May, BirdLife International announced changes to the Red Data List for threatened species. The African Penguin went from Vulnerable to Endangered. The next step is Critically Endangered and then extinction. BirdLife, in partnership with other dedicated organisations, is continuously monitoring African Penguins to determine what measures must be implemented to ensure the survival of the African Penguin. The research is costly and requires urgent assistance.

Get Involved
You can make a real difference by purchasing a raffle ticket for just R40, ot three for R 100-00. The prize is this magnificent painting entitled “Surf Report”. Kindly donated by well-known local artist Angela Key & framed by Glenda Pope, the painting measures 470x450mm and can be viewed at the Missions House Gallery in Onrus. The winner will be announced on 4 October. Proceeds raised from ticket sales will support the educational efforts of BirdLife South Africa's Seabirds Programme, The Dyer Island Conservation Trust and SANCCOB (SA Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds).

The African Penguin really needs our support. Please help. Tickets are available through BirdLife Overberg or other local bird clubs in the Western Cape. For further information, or to obtain raffle sheets email Elaine at mwjasser@mweb.co.za or Anton at birding@overberg.co.za.

- Angela Key

Artist Angela Key

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