MOSSEL BAY NEWS - Fourteen African penguins were found stranded on beaches between Hersham and Gouritz over the last couple of weeks.
The smallest one found only weighed one kilogram.
According to Carol Walton, founder of Saprec (Seabird and Penguin Rehabilitation Centre) the help of the volunteers from S.M.A.R.T. (Stranded Marine Animal Rescue Team) is extremely valuable as the little penguins are assisted extremely very quickly.
The collaboration between the two organisations shows the shared passion for stranded marine animals. All saved penguins are doing well and will be released as soon as possible.
The young birds look a little different from the adults as they do not have the well-known white breasts with black spots.
The penguin fledglings fledge at 60 to 130 days and the timing depends on environmental factors such as the quality and availability of food. The fledged chick will go to sea on its own and return to the natal colony after 12 to 22 months to moult into adult plumage. Soon after entering the sea, their blue colour becomes darker and they are then in juvenile plumage and known as "blues".
Although not a lot is known about this juvenile stage, the birds are extremely mobile and travel great distances. Blues that hatched in Algoa Bay travel westwards towards Cape Town and even as far as Ichaboe Island in Namibia.
With Mossel Bay about halfway to Cape Town, the tired little birds that are not strong enough, end up stranded on our beaches.
Some of the young African penguins were introduced to Madiba on Wednesday when the whole world celebrated Mandela Day.
If a stranded African penguin is found on a beach or the rocks, immediately call one of the emergency numbers listed below. Stranded penguins are usually an indication that there is something wrong with them and immediate action should be taken.
If a dead penguin is found, please do not leave it )on the beach or even bury it as the cause of death needs to be established.
Since the start of 2017, all African penguins that are released, receive a microchip implant and it is vitally important to retrieve the data from these chips.
Contact Carol Walton (082 364 3382) or S.M.A.R.T. (072 227 4715) if African penguins are found.
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