Birding in the Cape of Good Hope Section

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Flutterby
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Re: Birding in the Cape of Good Hope Section

Post by Flutterby »

SANParks - Table Mountain National ParkLike Page
5 hrs ·
NEWSFLASH! King Penguin to be relocated for its own safety

Since the arrival of the King Penguin who has waddled its way onto Buffels Bay Beach in Cape Point this past Wednesday, it has gained tremendous interest from birdwatchers across Cape Town and South Africa.

We, as SANParks Table Mountain National Park and SANCCOB, have monitored the bird over the past few days and have come to the decision to safely relocate the bird this afternoon to a secluded beach (inaccessible to the public) within Cape Point, for the safety and well-being of the bird.

Following assements done by a DEFF representative and SANCCOBs Clinical Veterinarian, the bird appears to be healthy and in very good body condition. Though his friendly interactions with tourists has shown his great character, he has moved further onto the parking area, near the entrance of the picnic site at Buffels Bay, and is at risk of overheating and being hit by a car.

We are closely monitoring the bird and have to consider the welfare of the bird if we see signs of stress (anthropogenic and/or heat) and moulting.

There will be a continuous SANParks presence on site during the day to ensure that the bird is given its space to move freely between land and sea.

📸 Justin Hawthorne


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Richprins
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Re: Birding in the Cape of Good Hope Section

Post by Richprins »

:-?


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Dzombo
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Re: Birding in the Cape of Good Hope Section

Post by Dzombo »

This has caused a huge outcry on a birding platform that I am a member of
Apparently this action was totally unwarranted


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Re: Birding in the Cape of Good Hope Section

Post by Richprins »

A bit of megalomania...but on the other hand SP would get nailed if something happens to the bird? Birders be crazy! lol


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Dzombo
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Re: Birding in the Cape of Good Hope Section

Post by Dzombo »

Tbh, I don’t really know why SANP are getting on their “high horse” about it.
Sure, it’s a rare vagrant to SA, but it’s hardly an endangered species.

I can understand why birders are so keen to see it though


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Re: Birding in the Cape of Good Hope Section

Post by Lisbeth »

Maybe not a bad idea to move it :-?


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Re: Birding in the Cape of Good Hope Section

Post by Klipspringer »

An update on the penguin and why it has been translocated

https://www.pressreader.com/south-afric ... 5112802876


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Re: Birding in the Cape of Good Hope Section

Post by Lisbeth »

King penguin reigns in lonely splendour

Protected as it moults 1 700km from home

Cape Times8 Nov 2019FRANCESCA VILLETTE francesca.villette@inl.co.za

Image
THE King penguin found waddling along Buffels Bay Beach at Cape Point at the weekend, some 1700km from the nearest colony home to its kind, has been moved to a secluded beach.

The move aims to keep the animal away from predators like caracals and leopards, as well as away from diseases and disease-carrying ticks.

There is also no road access to the beach, nor hiking trails, so humans may not disturb the exotic visitor.

Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (Sanccob) clinical vet Dr David Roberts said SANParks rangers were keeping a watchful eye on the penguin daily.

No genetic testing has been done on the bird, so its gender is not known.

Roberts said the penguin had the whole beach to itself, and liked to take walks on its own.

Sometimes when rangers looked for it, they found the animal lying on a rock or between greenery.

“The King penguin doesn’t have any predators in the wild, but on South Africa’s beaches there are threats of caracals and leopards. On its secluded beach there are no other penguins. If it does come across the predator, it can jump into the water,” Roberts said.

The King penguin is not from South Africa or found here.

The closest colony home is the Prince Edward Islands in the subantarctic Indian Ocean, some 1 700km away.

SANParks spokesperson Lauren Howard-Clayton said it was still unknown how the penguin arrived at Cape Point, but it could either have made the swim on its own, or have been transported by ship, which has been documented to have happened before.

“It is being monitored daily by the rangers, and it is doing well. Table Mountain National Park is being supported by Sanccob who have completed a second health check on the penguin, which is still in good health.

“The rangers will monitor the penguin for as long as it stays in the area,” Howard-Clayton said.

Roberts said the penguin would be left alone on the beach for the next few weeks, as its moulting, or shedding process, had already started.

“It will sit on the beach for the next two to three weeks and lose its feathers, so new feathers may grow.

“We won’t disturb it too much. Should rangers report that it is looking ill, we’ll intervene,” Roberts said.


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