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Thank you for signing up to this newsletter. In each issue we will bring you the latest news and developments within the Trust. Thank you to everyone for your support and donations made to the Trust. African Penguin Ambassadors in Zoos and Aquaria The 25th Annual
Conference of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria was
hosted by Antwerp Zoo in Belgium from the 16 to 20 September 2008.
The Dyer Island Conservation Trust was invited to address the
Penguin group on the wild African Penguins. Wilfred Chivell and
Lauren Waller attended the meeting on behalf of the trust and gave a
presentation on the status of African Penguins in the wild and the current threats they face, as well as latest African Penguin research and conservation projects. The talk also highlighted the role that the Dyer Island Conservation Trust is playing in these projects, and discussed the building of partnerships with European zoos and aquaria where their African penguins can act as ambassadors for their wild counterparts. The talk was very well received with the members showing keen interest (and dismay) at the declining African Penguin numbers and a willingness to support conservation and research where they could. The trip also provided Lauren and Wilfred to meet up with the Head of Research and Curator of Birds from Bristol University who are long time supporters of African Penguin research and conservation and who will be working more closely with the DICT in future with African Penguins. For more information on EAZA, go to: http://www.eaza.net/ or visit the Bristol Zoo website at: http://www.bristolzoo.org.uk/ Film crews visit Dyer Island & rescue of orphaned African Penguin chicks Two local film crews visited Dyer Island recently, the In Sync crew (August 2008) and Wild Ltd crew (November 2008), both filmed documentaries to raise awareness of the plight of the vulnerable African Penguin and the success of the artificial nesting project. On Dyer Island, chicks that hatch late in the season (September onwards) are sometimes abandoned by their parents who need to prepare for their annual moult. Every penguin needs to replace their old/worn feathers each year in order that they are in top condition for the next breeding season. Their feathers need to be completely waterproof enabling them to survive the cold Atlantic waters and stay at sea long enough that they can catch enough fish for themselves and their chicks. During the moult period, adults are unable to feed their chicks and if not removed from the island, these chicks will die through a lack of food. Due to the massive decline in penguin numbers, Dyer Island Conservation Trust and CapeNature remove these chicks to bolster the wild colonies. This year, 40 orphan chicks were removed from Dyer Island and transported to the South African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB) for hand-rearing. The fledglings will then be re-introduced to the wild around mid December to January. In 2006, SANCCOB reared 841 orphaned chicks and another 481 in 2007. Research has shown that these hand-reared and released chicks show higher survivorship than their wild counterparts, making each individual chick extremely valuable in conservation efforts of this vulnerable species. Collection of Seal Scat on Geyser Rock On the 31st October 2008, Steve Kirkman (PhD student researching the ecology of the Cape fur seal in southern Africa), of the University of Cape Town, and Wilfred Chivell went out to Geyser Rock to collect seal scat samples for dietary analysis, so as to ascertain the prey composition of the Cape Fur Seals in the Dyer Island area. This is the least intrusive way of determining a seal's dietary habits, and involves examining samples for fish otoliths, squid beaks, feathers, and so on. One can then ascertain which species and sizes of prey the seals are consuming, where after appropriate management and conservation options can be addressed. Whale Stranding on Pearly Beach On 23rd October 2008, a Southern Right Whale calf, estimated to be at least four months old, was found stranded on Pearly Beach, with no apparent injuries. The Dyer Island Conservation Trust (DICT) assists Dr Peter Best, Meredith Thornton and colleagues, of the Mammal Research Institute (University of Pretoria), housed at the South African Museum in Cape Town, with data collection when such events occur locally. With no reason for death evident, Wilfred Chivell, founder of DICT, collected skin samples from the whale, as well as numerous amphipods from the skin surface. The skin is used for a study on the fungi that grow on whale skin, which is a co-operative project with the Mammal Research Institute and Stellenbosch University. The eyes were also collected for a comparative study with Bowhead Whales. This project aims to use the lens of the eye to determine the age of the animal. At the Museum, research is undertaken on the ecology, population dynamics and behaviour of cetaceans in the waters of southern Africa, with the principal objective of providing information that will promote their conservation. They also train students, do environmental education and are engaging with the fishing industry in order to reduce whale entanglement. Apart from fieldwork on live animals they also collect stranded specimens to add to the Museum's marine mammal collection, including both skeletal and histological specimens. Faces of Need Update 2 898 nests have been sold to date. July was the peak breeding season for the African penguins on the island, and many of the penguin houses were found with chicks and/or eggs. A maximum count of 1 600 breeding pairs of African Penguins was counted in July on Dyer island. A rather depressing figure when you consider that in 1979, this figure was over 22 000 breeding pairs. The penguins are currently moulting on Dyer Island. African Penguins moult once a year and this period is crucial for the next breeding season. During this period, the penguins replace all their feathers. By doing so, they keep their feathers in tip top condition, providing them an insulative and waterproof layer that protects the penguin while swimming in the cold Atlantic waters. The penguins are then able to spend many hours at sea finding fish for themselves and their hungry chicks. Good news for our penguins is that half the South African coastline will enjoy extra legal protection from oil pollution from August when a new "special area" is declared by the United Nations. This internationally protected area stretches from Lamberts Bay on the Cape West Coast to East London. As from August 1, it will become an offence for any oil tankers and other large ships to clean out their cargo or "slops" tanks, or to dump oily wastes in this special area. There are still many homeless penguins on the island. You can purchase a nest online via via our secure website. Faces of Need Sharks The Faces of Need sharks project is a five year monitoring program aimed at estimating and establishing reliable population studies on the above key shark species. Through research, education and out reach programs the Dyer Island Conservation Trust and the South African shark Conservancy (SASC) are teaming up to start the project as soon as possible. Eventually the aim is to implement sustainable catch quotas for the locally exploited species and compensate local fisherman's livelihood. To read more on this exciting project... click here. Supporters
Thank you MSP and we look forward to being able to house many more penguins through your support. These are just a handful of our latest news stories and you can read more about what the trust is up to on the news section of the website (http://www.dict.org.za/news.htm). © 2008 Dyer Island Conservation Trust Dyer Island Conservation Trust |
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Welcome to
Multi Spectrum Property Group (MSP Group). MSP Group has pledged,
after delivery of the initial 20 homes, to deliver a penguin home
for every home we deliver to our clients. The MSP Group anticipates
to deliver 1000 residences in 2008 translating to 1000 penguin
breeding pairs which will receive safe homes in which to raise their
chicks. As a group they are dedicated to the conservation and
protection of our natural environment. 
