Boulders Beach - Penguins, other birds etc.

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Lisbeth
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Re: Boulders Beach - Penguins, other birds etc.

Post by Lisbeth »

One of those things that spread quicker than you can get it under control :shock:


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Re: Boulders Beach - Penguins, other birds etc.

Post by Lisbeth »

14.03.2018

Seeing as Saturday was African Penguin Awareness Day and this week is National Marine Week, we thought it fitting to look a bit closer at our waddling friend for #WildlifeWednesday. Footage courtesy of Siyaya - Come wild with us.

The waddling African Penguin is a favourite among tourists in South Africa. Their colony at Boulder’s Beach in Cape Town is one of the best viewing spots in the coutry.

They are monogamous birds, which means they mate for life and both take turns to look after chicks. They may find new mates if something were to happen to their partners or they don’t return from a hunt.

Today we lay down pipes as homes for penguins because humans took their guano for fertilisers, leaving little for them to make homes.


phpBB [video]


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Re: Boulders Beach - Penguins, other birds etc.

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Dept puts brakes on seabirds research after avian flu outbreak

The bird flu outbreak is affecting several seabird species, such as the swift terns, African penguins and Cape gannets across the country's coastline.

Shamiela Fisher | one hour ago

CAPE TOWN - The Environmental Affairs Department has halted all research activities involving the handling of seabirds as a result of the spread of the H5N8 strain of avian flu.

The bird flu outbreak is affecting several seabird species, such as the swift terns, African penguins and Cape gannets across the country's coastline.

Stringent biosecurity measures are being implemented at various seabird rehabilitation centres and captive institutions to address the spread of the H5N8 strain of avian flu.

The department's Zolile Nqayi says that the current outbreak adds further pressure to the already declining seabird population.

“It affects all out stakeholders. It will be in place until we establish the extent of the problem. We’ve put security measures in place to ensure it doesn’t spread.”

Last year, 2.4 million layer hens were culled in the Western Cape following the bird flu outbreak, impacting on egg production and supply.

(Edited by Shimoney Regter)

http://ewn.co.za/2018/03/23/dept-puts-b ... u-outbreak


Please check Needs Attention pre-booking: https://africawild-forum.com/viewtopic.php?f=322&t=596
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Re: Boulders Beach - Penguins, other birds etc.

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https://www.athlonenews.co.za/news/stud ... r-38528670


Study shows penguins earn R311m a year
By Karen Kotze December 4, 2019

The African penguin colony in Simon’s Town earns R311 million annually, most of it spend from overseas visitors, according to a City of Cape Town study.

It notes the plucky little seabirds are very popular with the overseas visitors who make up 88% and the rest is split between domestic tourists and residents of Cape Town.

The penguins could potentially bring in R6.87 billion over the next 30 years, of which R2.27 billion would be invested in the Simon’s Town area, the study says.

This figure assumes a conservative visitor growth of 2% annually.

The City says it did the study of the penguins’ economic value to take stock of its environmental assets so as to find ways to better protect them and use them sustainably.

According to the study, the penguins provide 885 jobs in all parts of Cape Town.

A survey of actual jobs in Simon’s Town nearest the colony, showed 80 permanent and 35 seasonal direct jobs are associated with the penguins.

The first breeding pair of penguins arrived at Boulders, Simon’s Town, in 1983 and the colony grew rapidly reaching 1 000 nesting pairs by 2001. Today, 854 pairs are found in the area.

The study found the penguin colony adds to Simon’s Town property values and has high heritage and socio-cultural value too, combining an endangered species in a picturesque setting, with high visitor numbers.

Transport expenditure associated with the colony is R37 million a year for international and domestic tourists.

And tourists spend on other items including entry fees, food, curios, guides, local transport, entertainment and accommodation.

Money spent on items that can be ascribed to the colony amounts to R255 million a year within the whole of Cape Town, R90 million of which accrues to Simon’s Town.

Capetonians’ colony-associated spending is roughly R19 million a year.

The study found the investment in and management of the penguin colony by SANParks and the City of Cape Town, in partnership with the SA Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCOBB), residents and tourism stakeholders has allowed for the creation of a world-class conservation and tourist destination.

But ongoing management and improvement are needed if the benefits associated with the colony are to be sustained and increased.

According to City of Cape Town’s Landscape Master Plan for the area, and with SANParks projections, combined investments of R22 million are needed to meet the area’s medium-term investment requirements.

Simon’s Town Municipality managed the area until SANParks took over in 1998 when the site became part of the Table Mountain National Park.

Over the years, significant additions and upgrades of facilities and amenities were undertaken and SANParks staff numbers increased to 20 permanent employees.

Visitor numbers to the SANParks Boulders section of the penguin colony have grown from about 580 000 in 2006 to 930 000 in 2017.


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Re: Boulders Beach - Penguins, other birds etc.

Post by Lisbeth »

I don't believe that it's the first time that they have been doing the sums O**


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Re: Boulders Beach - Penguins, other birds etc.

Post by Klipspringer »

https://www.pressreader.com/south-afric ... 3638090377

Tourist photographers breaking the rules there too :evil:


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