MOSSEL BAY NEWS - The Seabird and Penguin Rehabilitation Centre (Saprec) has rescued and rehabilitated seabirds and penguins for the past fourteen years.
This enormous task would not have been possible without the help of loving volunteers. Although there have been many helping hands through the years, the following people form the backbone of the work done at the centre.
Carol Walton, the founder of Saprec, studied nature conservation, whereafter she worked at the Johannesburg Zoo for about four years as the zookeeper.
After a move to Cape Town, she was the curator of the Tygerberg Zoo for about three years.
She then moved on to SANCCOB (Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds) in Table View, where she was the manager of the centre.
Walton had a satellite station at the Bettys Bay African penguin colony.
In 2003 she moved to Mossel Bay and after treating injured seabirds and penguins in her garage for a year, she was able to obtain the current premises of Saprec in Mossdustria. Anybody that has ever met Carol and has seen her with the penguins, can see these birds are her passion.
She has dedicated her life to rehabilitating countless birds and penguins over the last fourteen years and her knowledge and care resulted in many badly wounded birds being released back into the ocean.
She has trained all the volunteers at the centre and has also helped at other facilities when there was an oil spill.
Piet October has helped Carol with the birds since 2004 and it is known the clean and neat premises are of the best.
Piet says: "Dit is my hart en my liefde om met die voëltjies te werk".
He was taken along on one release of a group of penguins, but cried so much Carol decided he was not to go again. Piet cleans the pens, maintains the centre and helps to carry the birds. Although he is 65 years old, he still comes to work every day and does not see it as "work". In the beginning of 2007, Sue Harris paid a visit to the centre for the first time, accompanying her children on a school outing.
An animal lover, she immediately asked if and how she could help at the centre. Carol trained her and ever since Sue has been volunteering at Saprec. Driving through from George once a week to do her duty has been a pleasure.
She sees her work at Saprec as a special type of "me time" and loves all the birds. Every release is a highlight to her as it means the hard work in rehabilitating a bird, has finally paid off.
Theresa Fabbraio's youngest son took photography as a subject in his matric year and he had to do an assignment on Saprec. It was the first time that Theresa heard about the Centre and it was love at first sight! Although there were not many penguins, she offered to help Carol and after receiving the necessary training, she started volunteering. It means the world to her to be able to work with these very special little birds. Her favourite was Darling, a very lovable penguin. When Darling passed away due to organ failure, Theresa cried non-stop.
She has been on the Saprec board of directors for the past six years and the chair since 2013.
Wilna van Aardt joined the Saprec volunteers in January 2008. She loves all animals and especially birds and the centre gave her the opportunity to make a difference to the fate of the injured and sick.
She enjoys working with all the other volunteers and her favourite little penguin at the moment is Hiccup although each resident penguin has its own character and cuteness. She hopes she can be part of Saprec for many more years. The newest volunteer to join Saprec is Glenda Schafer. She has been helping on and off for the last five years and she loves working on a daily basis at the centre. Seeing an injured bird at its worst when it comes to Saprec and being part of the rehabilitation process until finally it can be released, fulfils her.
Saprec cannot operate without the hands and the passion of these volunteers.
At the moment there are eleven resident and four wild penguins at the centre as well as a northern petrel and a kelp gull. To visit Saprec or to become a volunteer, contact Carol Walton (082 364 3382).
Click here to view a photo gallery.
Read a previous article here: For the love of penguins
ARTICLE: TERSIA MARAIS, MOSSEL BAY ADVERTISER JOURNALIST
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