Chicks rescued from Robben and Jutten islands

South Africa - Cape Town - 19 March 2021 - Robben Island. Cape cormorants admitted to the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB) for hand-rearing and rehabilitation in January are being released in groups of 40 to 100 birds according to readiness as determined by the organisation’s release criteria. The chicks were rescued from Robben and Jutten islands in very poor condition, suffering from heat stress and dehydration after being abandoned by their parent birds earlier this year. The initial rescue operation for the majority of birds from Robben Island was carried out by Robben Island Museum (RIM), SANCCOB, Two Oceans Aquarium and the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) from 12 to 14 January. The rescue intervention was deemed necessary due to their high conservation value. Releases will take place regularly in the weeks ahead, most likely through to May until all birds are back in the wild where they belong. SANCCOB’s research manager, Dr Katta Ludynia, says, “Researchers suggest a combination of food shortage and extreme heat conditions led to the mass abandonment of Cape cormorant chicks. If the birds were already struggling to find sufficient food due to overall low food availability – their main prey being sardine and anchovy – then the heat will have added to the parent birds choosing to fly off as the heat increases the birds’ demand for energy, i.e. food.” Ludynia adds that a particular disturbance event resulting in the abandonment is unlikely as the abandonment of Cape cormorant chicks on Jutten Island started on exactly the same day. Photographer: Armand Hough/African News Agency(ANA)