![\"\"](\"https:\/\/static.africa-press.net\/south-africa\/sites\/31\/2021\/01\/download-2.jpg\")
<\/p>\nAfrica-Press-South-Africa<\/p>\n
Cape Town – After a large number of Cape cormorant chicks were apparently abandoned on Robben Island and left to fend for themselves, the NSRI Table Bay crew were called in to assist at the request of Sanccob (Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds).<\/p>\n
Pat van Eyssen, NSRI Table Bay duty coxswain, said they were called at around 11am on Tuesday to assist in an ongoing rescue operation of Cape cormorant chicks at the island.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cIt appears that a large number of Cape Cormorant chicks may have been abandoned on the island and left to fend for themselves. Reasons for the parents absence is being investigated by Sanccob.<\/p>\n
\u201cAccording to Sanccob their rangers on the island had been monitoring the situation and with the chicks parents having not returned, for unknown reasons, the decision was taken to intervene,\u201d Van Eyssen said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAdditional Sanccob rangers and Two Oceans Aquarium staff were dispatched to join their colleagues and Robben Island Museum staff on the Island and they gathered chicks into boxes to be brought to Sanccob for care and protection.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/static.africa-press.net\/south-africa\/sites\/31\/2021\/01\/download.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
To assist with transport of chicks from the island to the mainland, the sea rescue craft Spirit of Vodacom was launched, accompanied by a Sanccob member, Van Eyssen said.<\/p>\n
\u201cOn arrival at the island, they were transported to a location on the northern side of the Island by Robben Island Museum staff. While at the scene our NSRI crew assisted Sanccob rangers, Two Oceans Aquarium staff and Robben Island Museum staff to collect more of the Cape cormorant chicks that were placed into boxes.<\/p>\n
\u201cA total of 128 chicks, loaded into 16 boxes, were brought to Murray Bay harbour and loaded onto our sea rescue craft and in the care of Sanccob they were brought to our NSRI Table Bay sea rescue station and they have been transported to Sanccob in Table View for further care,\u201d Van Eyssen said.<\/p>\n
A team from Sanccob, Two Oceans Aquarium and Robben Island Museum staff remained on site to monitor the situation and if the chicks parents don’t return more chicks may need to be taken into the care of Sanccob.<\/p>\n
In a statement, Sanccob said that hundreds of the rescued chicks were currently being admitted to its facility in Table View.<\/p>\n
\u201cA robust rescue effort with Robben Island Museum, Two Oceans Aquarium and NSRI was executed today to retrieve the abandoned chicks and transport them to our care.<\/p>\n
\u201cEach chick is being assessed and hydrated on admission and our team of staff, interns and volunteers are giving 110% to their care and accommodation. We will keep you informed of the findings of researchers and veterinary staff in the days ahead,\u201d Sanccob said.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Africa-Press-South-Africa Cape Town – After a large number of Cape cormorant chicks were apparently abandoned on Robben Island and left to fend for themselves, the NSRI Table Bay crew were called in to assist at the request of Sanccob (Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds). Pat van Eyssen, NSRI Table Bay duty […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":84,"featured_media":2352,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,11],"tags":[315],"class_list":["post-2350","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-all-news","category-photo","tag-africa-press-south-africa"],"yoast_head":"\n