penguin donations

[Jenny Skewes <>]

Yesterday I raised the issue of a birding-aus donation to the South African
penguin rescue appeal. Before many of you had even read that, I received
a response from Prof Les Underhill who is involved in the rescue. Here
is part of that message:

"It would be brilliant if you could help coordinate a penguin
collection. It is not at all clear that the insurance is going to
cover the full cost of cleaning the penguins. Even if it does, we are
going to need to secure the SANCCOB facility into the future.

The only reason that we can handle these crises as well as we do is
that there is this tiny little neglected NGO, SANCCOB, that clings
to life by a thread in the intervals between crises. Then it has to
spring to life again, and everyone rallies around. But we are always
able to rapidly multiply the nucleus of skills that lies at the core
of SANCCOB. It is having the core of skills that is critical.

I, personally, think that was has been achieved in the past two
weeks is little short of miraculous. We have 23000 oiled penguins in
care, another 17000 (or so) unoiled birds relocated 800 km, and the
number of fatalities is still in the low 100s. .....

Thank you for your concern about our penguins. "

Already some people have contacted me about donating, and I thank them. I have rung about to find a suitable point of collection, and discovered that the Phillip Island Nature Park (which incorporated the Penguin Parade) already has an appeal going. This seems the most efficient way for any of us to send money to help this crisis.
Note that these donations will not be tax-deductible.

Please make cheques out to :  PINP South African Penguin Appeal
and send them to   the PINP    at PO Box 97, Cowes  3922

Let's do what we can - every little bit helps!

Jenny