PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - While thousands of visitors descended upon Plettenberg Bay beaches over the festive season, one of them received quite a bit of attention.
An endangered northern rockhopper penguin washed up on Nature’s Valley Beach last week – more than 3 000km from its breeding colony.
The moulting juvenile was discovered by passersby who contacted the relevant authorities, and it was taken to the Tenikwa wildlife rehabilitation centre outside Plett where it is now receiving the necessary treatment.
How the bird ended up in local waters, so far away from home, is somewhat of a mystery, though.
Mandy Freeman of Tenikwa says this species of penguin is mainly found on Trista da Cunha and Gough Island in the south Atlantic Ocean, about 3 000km from South Africa and South America.
“There are two lines of thought around how penguins like the northern rockhopper end up along the South African coast.
"Although rare, these penguins have been found here over the years.
"The first explanation could be that they get caught up in currents while moulting.
"Another possibility is that these penguins are taken on board ships by sailors who keep them as pets.
"When they approach a port, they chuck the bird overboard and they end up here,” Freeman says.
A northern rockhopper penguin washed up on Nature's Valley beach in Plettenberg Bay last week. It is being nursed back to health at the Tenikwa wildlife rehabilitation centre on the outskirts of the town. Photo: Supplied
According to international agreements, she explains, these species cannot be released as they have no natural resistance to diseases found in South Africa.
If they are exposed to these diseases and go back, they could wipe out an entire colony.
“Generally they are nursed back to health and then go into conservation to create awareness.”
Freeman says the northern rockhopper is an endangered species as its population has decreased by 90% since the 1950s.
“The one found in Plett was not injured, just moulting. It was brought to Tenikwa where our team rehydrated it. It had a bit of congestion in the lungs, but this was treated with antibiotics.
"He is already swimming around. The moulting process will probably be completed in the next two weeks.”
She says the little penguin has quite the expensive appetite and only eats prawns and squid.
“Its mouth is too small to consume the sardines we feed the larger penguins.”
Once the penguin is strong and healthy enough – and the necessary blood tests have been done, which would also determine the bird's gender – they would most likely contact the Two Oceans Aquarium to take it in, Freeman says.
* If you find a penguin on the beach in trouble, you can contact Tenikwa on 044-534-8170 for further assistance.
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