Dataset Information

Hand-rearing, release and survival of African penguin chicks abandoned before independence by moulting parents.

ABSTRACT: The African penguin Spheniscus demersus has an 'Endangered' conservation status and a decreasing population. Following abandonment, 841 African penguin chicks in 2006 and 481 in 2007 were admitted to SANCCOB (Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds) for hand-rearing from colonies in the Western Cape, South Africa, after large numbers of breeding adults commenced moult with chicks still in the nest. Of those admitted, 91% and 73% respectively were released into the wild. There were veterinary concerns about avian malaria, airsacculitis and pneumonia, feather-loss and pododermatitis (bumblefoot). Post-release juvenile (0.32, s.e. ?=?0.08) and adult (0.76, s.e. ?=?0.10) survival rates were similar to African penguin chicks reared after oil spills and to recent survival rates recorded for naturally-reared birds. By December 2012, 12 birds had bred, six at their colony of origin, and the apparent recruitment rate was 0.11 (s.e. ?=?0.03). Hand-rearing of abandoned penguin chicks is recommended as a conservation tool to limit mortality and to bolster the population at specific colonies. The feasibility of conservation translocations for the creation of new colonies for this species using hand-reared chicks warrants investigation. Any such programme would be predicated on adequate disease surveillance programmes established to minimise the risk of disease introduction to wild birds.

SUBMITTER: Sherley RB

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4206437 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Hand-rearing, release and survival of African penguin chicks abandoned before independence by moulting parents.

Sherley Richard B RB Waller Lauren J LJ Strauss Venessa V Geldenhuys Deon D Underhill Les G LG Parsons Nola J NJ

PloS one 20141022 10

The African penguin Spheniscus demersus has an 'Endangered' conservation status and a decreasing population. Following abandonment, 841 African penguin chicks in 2006 and 481 in 2007 were admitted to SANCCOB (Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds) for hand-rearing from colonies in the Western Cape, South Africa, after large numbers of breeding adults commenced moult with chicks still in the nest. Of those admitted, 91% and 73% respectively were released into the wild. ...[more]

PMID: 25337698

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Dataset Information

Hand-rearing, release and survival of African penguin chicks abandoned before independence by moulting parents.

Publications

Hand-rearing, release and survival of African penguin chicks abandoned before independence by moulting parents.

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