WATCH: Penguin trio released back into wild
One of the penguins, Captain Jack Sparrow, was taken in by the South African Association for Marine Biological Research for rehabilitation in July this year.
THREE African penguins, that were in the care of South African Association for Marine Biological Research in Durban, were released in Port Elizabeth yesterday morning.
Bateleurs pilot, Don Bailey left Virginia Airport with the most precious cargo: the three penguins, Admiral Paul, Baroness Jennifer and Captain Jack Sparrow and a sub-antarctic fur seal, Peaches.
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The three penguins are of similar age and spent approximately two months in Saambr’s care after they were found stranded on various beaches in KwaZulu-Natal.
“Although they all arrived on different days, their conditions were similar. They, fortunately, had no permanent injuries and were merely underweight and exhausted. In our care they gained weight, regained their strength and completed their waterproofing,” said SAAMBR’s animal welfare and behaviour manager, Gabby Harris.
With normal results on their mandatory blood tests, they were given the green light for release. Saambr turned to Bateleurs, a non-profit organisation that offers a free service to a wide range of environmental organisations, for assistance.
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“Although we cannot say with certainty that the penguins originally came from PE, there is a strong possibility that their home range is in the vicinity of Bird Island,” said Harris.
Greg Hofmeyer, from Bayworld, offered to release the penguins at Cape Recife once they arrived in PE.
“Peaches will remain at Bayworld for a little longer before she is taken out to sea and released into the Agulhas current,” said Harris.
The final step in her release is dependent, among other factors, on weather conditions.
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Each of the three penguins has been micro chipped so they can be identified and Saambr will receive an update.
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Video: Yvonne Sanders
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