MOSSEL BAY NEWS - The Seabird and Penguin Rehabilitation Centre (SAPREC) outside Mossel Bay is appealing for funding because its area has been extended.
This follows the closure of the rehabilitation section of the Tenikwa Wildlife Awareness Centre at The Crags outside Plettenberg Bay.
The Tenikwa Awareness Centre is still open, but it is no longer taking in animals for rehabilitation.
"Rehabilitation centres require large amounts of funding on an ongoing basis," Tenikwa co-founder Mandy Freeman said. She said the effects of Covid-19 and the drop in tourism had impacted the centre. The rehabilitation section closed at the end of March.
SAPREC is based at Mossdustria, off the N2 in the direction of Cape Town. SAPREC founder and director Carol Walton says SAPREC covered the area from Stilbaai to Wilderness, but now, with rehabilitation no longer taking place at Tenikwa, SAPREC's area has extended to Plettenburg Bay. The stretch of coastline SAPREC covers has gone from 141km to 220km. SAPREC must organise transport for stricken birds to its premises from places between Stilbaai and Plettenburg Bay.
Walton says she has a network of people who transport birds.
Costs which SAPREC needs to cover include petrol, food for the birds and emergency treatment and electrolytes to stabilise birds before they are sent to SAPREC.
If you are able to support SAPREC with funding, contact Walton (082 364 3382).
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