Penguin and Seabird Rescue Centre

The Penguin and Seabird Rescue Centre in Gqeberha was founded in the year 2000 as a result of an oil spill that threatened the lives of more than 20,000 penguins. Today, there are only a total of 25,000 breeding pairs of the African Penguin left in the whole world, with 21,000 of them found in the Algoa Bay around Gqeberha, making it the area with the largest breeding colony of African Penguins in the world.

The Penguin and Seabird Rescue Centre cares for sick, injured, or malnourished penguins and other seabirds such as seagulls, gannets, and cormorants. They are cleaned from oil, provided with veterinary treatment, fed, and finally released into the bay.

Due to climate change, it is becoming increasingly difficult for seabirds to find sufficient food for themselves and their hatchlings. To reach the cold streams where penguins can find their food, they have to swim up to 60 km (40 miles) away from their breeding grounds.

Maritime traffic and the increasing pollution of the bay and breeding grounds further threaten the animals. Even a small oil spill on the feathers of a bird can immobilize it or cause its death.

The work of the Penguin and Seabird Rescue Centre is vital for the protection and conservation of the penguin breeding colony and other seabirds of Algoa Bay. In addition to rescuing endangered species, the project also educates the public about the need for conservation work. The project's visitor centre houses a comprehensive exhibition where tourists, school classes, and the general population can learn about penguins and other marine wildlife.

The center receives different species of seabirds throughout the year. Penguins are present year-round, but there is a peak between October and January when many abandoned chicks are admitted. Similarly, there are specific months for other seabirds when there is a higher intake of birds for various reasons:

• Cormorants, weak juveniles January to March
• Cape Gannets, weak juveniles and abondoned chicks January to May
• Hartlaub's Gulls, abandoned chicks from February to April
• Kelp Gulls, botulism disease from January to June
• Swift Terns, abandoned chicks from February to April 

Each year, a total of 24–30 different seabird species are admitted for rehabilitation. Other species include pelagic birds such as albatrosses and petrels, oystercatchers, pelicans, and various species of terns.

Volunteering with Penguins

Would you like to help rescue endangered penguins? Then this is the project for you! As a volunteer, you will participate in various activities related to the protection of penguins and other seabirds. Your activities include:

Bird Hospital and Bird Rescue:

• Ensuring hygiene and cleanliness in the rehabilitation center
• Washing and drying laundry
• Cleaning enclosures, pools, and equipment
• Preparing food for the birds (fish)
• Preparing and administering medication for the birds
• Tube-feeding undernourished birds
• Washing, feeding, and caring for birds that are brought in
• Catching and handling birds
• Assisting with bird release preparation
• Joining staff at rescues in the Gqeberha area when possible

Sea ​​School:

• Teaching children about the work of the institution
• Providing other environmental education for children focusing on "Ocean Habitat"
• Preparing displays and educational materials

Fundraising:

• Sending letters of thanks to donors
• Tracking donations
• Preparing penguin adoption packs
• Participating in fundraising activities

Activities in the Visitor Center:

• Welcoming visitors
• Guiding visitors and school groups through the center
• Handling "Bird Calls" (phone calls related to birds in need of rescue)
• Administrative activities (answering phone calls, emails, receiving deliveries, stocktaking, ordering goods, etc.)
• Entering visitor data into the database
• Assisting at the center's coffee shop

The facility is open 365 days a year. Volunteers work 5 days a week according to a work plan, including weekends. If you work on the weekend, you'll get a weekday off instead. You will be helping from 8 AM to 5 PM with a one-hour lunch break and two short tea breaks.

Seabird Rehabilitation Internship

In this internship, you will be trained and mentored by experienced seabird rehabilitation professionals and will take on a central role in the organization’s activities. The duration of this internship is 12-24 weeks. It offers the opportunity to develop both technical and soft skills while actively contributing to the survival of endangered species such as the African Penguin.

Training Topics:

• Maintaining high standards of hygiene and cleanliness
• Hands-on training in all supporting areas of the seabird hospital
• Defrosting and preparing fish for various seabird species
• Routine work in the pens – hygiene and cleanliness
• Catching, handling, feeding, hydrating (tubing), and administering medication for various flying seabirds as well as critically endangered African Penguins
• Supervising seabird pens
• Supervising short-term volunteers
• Record-keeping for individual seabirds
• Evaluating basic blood results (hematocrit, buffy coat, total protein)
• Assisting in evaluating the waterproofing of feathers in African Penguins
• Where skill permits: supervising the seabird intensive care unit under guidance from the rehabilitation team
• Assisting in admitting new seabirds to the rehabilitation center

Progress of the training will depend on the discretion of the rehabilitation team and the participant’s current skill level.

Internship Requirements:

• High motivation and passion for seabird conservation and rehabilitation
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Detail-oriented with a commitment to providing exceptional care for seabirds
• Ability to multi-task and prioritize tasks

Duration and Working Hours:

• The internship should have a duration of 12-24 weeks.
• It includes five workdays per week (including weekends and public holidays), usually from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
• Longer hours may be required during urgent rescue operations or busy periods.
• You should be prepared to actively contribute and work hands-on.

Required Documents:

• Motivational letter
• CV / Resume
• Completed application form (provided by us via email)