SANCOOB
This former TreadRight project focused on the conservation of the African Penguin, whose population is in decline due to habitat destruction, commercial over-fishing, pollution and oil spills.
Objective
Near the turn of the 20th century there were an estimated three million African Penguins in the wild. By 2004, that number had been reduced to 58,000 breeding pairs. Today, there are less than 19,000 breeding pairs left in the wild. More than 2,100 African Penguins call the Simon’s Town/Boulders area home, 68% of which live inside the park.
Impact
TreadRight contributed to the conservation of the endangered African Penguin through its sponsorship of the Burgher’s Walk Restoration Project at Boulders Beach, South Africa, organised by the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds’ (SANCCOB).
The Burgher’s Walk Restoration Project helped to protect the African Penguin colony at Boulders Beach from the curious public, domestic animals and speeding cars, which drive along the road above the site. Funding for the project went towards the management of the terrain, the rehabilitation of penguins at SANCCOB, the salaries of three Penguin Monitors, and the upkeep of the penguin-proof fencing and pathways.
TreadRight also supported SANCCOB’s efforts by contributing to organisation’s employment of Penguin Monitors who are responsible for penguin conservation, tourist management and area management tasks.
The trained Penguin Monitors were central to the whole project, carrying out key activities, including the rescuing of injured, oiled, or at-risk penguins, maintaining penguin-proof barriers, infrastructure, equipment, and the natural environment.
This is in addition to managing local and international tourists and operations at the site.
UN GLOBAL GOALS
This project contributed to local employment opportunities as well as the protection of the endangered African Penguins.
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