Hi there
Update - with some very welcome help coming from Oz and the possibility of
the disaster re-occurring as the penguins get home.
Cheers
Carol de Bruin
-----Original Message-----
From: Les Underhill <>
To: <>;
<>; <>
Cc: <>
Date: 12 July 2000 06:56
Subject: Peter, Percy & Pam: heading for stormy waters?
WWF-SA Media Release
Wednesday, 12 July 2000
Heading for stormy waters?
Peter, Percy & Pam
Dr Robert Crawford of Marine and Coastal Management reports that the
three transmitter birds are all progressing. Peter, from Robben
Island, at 1900 yesterday (Tuesday) was directly south of Breede
River mouth. He was released at Cape Recife on June 30 am.
Percy, released July 5 morning, was just west of Mossel Bay (past
seals and sharks) at midnight last night. Pam (released July 3
morning) was directly south of George at 2 am today (Wednesday).
Both are from Dassen Island.
The first releases of about 150 birds were two days ahead of Peter, so they
may be rounding Cape Agulhas.
A heavy storm is expected over the next few days and may break up
the ship. Between 150 t and 550 t oil is estimated to still be on the
sunken 'Treasure". We hope if the ship breaks up and oil is released
that the wind will push it onto the mainland beaches. If not, we may
have a lot of oil back in the sea as the penguins come back from Port
Elizabeth.
Slightly more than 20 000 birds were translocated to Port Elizabeth, 13 000
from Dassen Island and 7 000 from Robben Island.
Chick collectors
The evacuation of 'orphaned' chicks from Robben and Dassen Islands
continue. Last night, WWF-SA sponsored a helicopter to take a team of
chick collectors to Dassen Island.
Australian experts offer assistance
Eight Australian penguin rehabilitation experts will arrive in South
Africa soon to assist with the Penguin Rescue Operation. Nedbank,
through The Green Trust, is funding their accommodation costs and
50% of their airfare. The rest of the airfare has been donated by
South African Airways. The Australians are generously providing of
their time free of charge.
South Africa and Australia - being in the Southern Hemisphere which is home
to the world's entire penguin population - have both been exposed to the
devastating effects which oil spillages have on seabirds.
Assistance of another kind
WWF-SA donated R148 719 and R315 000 to the Western Cape Nature
Conservation Board and Court Helicopters respectively for the
effective evacuation of un-oiled penguins from Dassen Island and
their subsequent transport by road to Port Elizabeth where they were
released. In turn, Court Helicopters presented WWF with a generous
donation. WWF-SA also donated R50 000 to the Avian Demography Unit
at the University of Cape Town for the ringing of penguins prior to
their release.
Sanccob
Sanccob reports that no penguins are ready to be released yet. There
is great concern that Sanccob will not have enough volunteers when
the winter school holidays come to an end this week. Volunteers who
can assist after the holidays, must please phone one of the
following numbers: (021) 480 7726 / 29 / 30 / 49 between 8:00 and
19:00.
Donations can be forwarded to: WWF Penguin Appeal, WWF-SA, PO Box 456,
Stellenbosch 7599, or by direct bank transfer to ABSA Stellenbosch, Branch
code 334410, Account no: 40-5178-1879.
****************************
Professor Les Underhill
Director: Avian Demography Unit
Department of Statistical Sciences
University of Cape Town
Rondebosch 7701 South Africa
Phone +27 21 650 3227 Fax +27 21 650 3434
Web http://www.uct.ac.za/depts/stats/adu/
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