Nineteen African penguins are being treated at a Table View sea bird Sanctuary after they were found covered in oil at Hout Bay, Noordhoek and Kommetjie beaches last week, says the City

The penguins were rescued through the joint efforts of the City, South African National Parks (SANParks) and the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB) on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday last week.

On Wednesday afternoon, the City’s coastal management staff responded to reports of African penguins coming ashore at Klein Slangkop, on Kommetjie Beach, according to mayoral committee member for spatial planning and environment Eddie Andrews.

“After catching the first penguin, it was determined that it also had a strong smell of fuel/oil and was in a weak condition. We immediately began catching all the penguins in the area, a total of eight penguins were rescued and transported to SANCCOB,“ he said.

In a separate incident, the following evening, SANCCOB and SANParks rangers, who were escorted by police officers, recovered an oiled penguin in Hout Bay that had allegedly been rescued by a resident.

That penguin was taken to SANCCOB in Table View later that night.

On Thursday morning, the City’s coastal management staff were called out again to Kommetjie where they rescued another five oiled penguins there.

“Together with the SANParks rangers the coastline was surveyed for any more birds that may have come ashore,” Mr Andrews said.

The following Friday morning the City responded to more alerts of oiled penguins reported at Noordhoek Beach.

All the rescued penguins have been admitted to SANCCOB for fuel/oil contamination where the necessary treatment and cleaning is being done.

In a statement, Sanccob said the type and source of the oil was unknown at this stage.

“The oil is light in colour and is not immediately visible on the feathers but does have a distinct odour. We kindly request that members of the public avoid capturing any oil-affected birds for your own safety and report them to SANCCOB directly,” the statement said.

SANCCOB spokesperson Robyn Fraser-Knowles added: “The oil has a detrimental effect on the waterproof quality of the penguins’ feathers, affecting buoyancy and causing the skin to become wet, which causes hypothermia and can prove fatal if not treated.

“The penguins then try to clean and ingest the oil, resulting in poisoning, emaciation and death.“

The affected penguins had been stabilised and would undergo a health check to see if they were healthy enough to be washed again this week, said SANCCOB response manager Monica Stassen.

The source of the pollution was being investigated by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment’s pollution control department, Mr Andrews said.

The SPCA did not respond to further questions by time of publication.

Ward Councillor Roberto Quintas said: “Although it is too early to establish the oil and source thereof, this is a stark reminder that there needs to be greater monitoring of vessels in our coastal waters.

“Whether it be leaks or overboard dumping, our local marine wildlife and we as communities who enjoy our ocean are put at serious risk. It can only be hoped that the source of the oil is identified and necessary steps taken against unseaworthy vessels or vessels dumping oil along our peninsula.“

Sightings of oiled sea birds can be reported to SANCCOB Cape Town at 021 557 6155 or 078 638 3731 (after hours).

A staff member from the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB) seen scrubbing the oil off an African penguin at a Table View Sea Bird Sanctuary.

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