Hunger Crisis—How KruShan Foundation Ensured over 350 African Penguin Chicks Won’t Starve

One of our partners, the Dyer Island Conservation Trust, cares for approximately 350 African penguin chicks at the African Penguin and Seabird Sanctuary (APSS) between October and January.

Dr. Liezl Pretorius, a zoologist and veterinarian at APSS, explains that during this time, African penguin parents endure their annual molt, rendering their feather coat non-waterproof. Consequently, they cannot catch fish to feed their offspring.

Penguin chicks are left in their nests, but they are too young, some just a few days old, to catch fish for themselves, leaving them vulnerable to attacks by seals and seagulls. If parents do not return to the nest and the chicks’ condition deteriorates rapidly, the chicks are removed and transported to the African Penguin and Seabird Sanctuary (APSS). There, they are treated and cared for until they are old and strong enough to survive on the island independently—a monumental task during the busy chick season, when more than 350 African penguin chicks are fed, weighed, tagged, and monitored twice daily. APSS conservation coordinator Trudi Malan said that all of the hungry penguin chicks need about 100 kg (220 pounds) of fish daily during the busy chick season.

Constant, prolonged power outages cause further pressure. The penguin sanctuary did not have funds for a 24-hour generator, so there was an urgent need to purchase two large gas freezers.

We responded with an immediate donation that funded the purchase of two 215-liter (57-gallon) gas freezers to the Dyer Island Conservation Trust to store the fish needed to enable the endangered African penguin chicks to survive.

The two freezers were in place in early October, just in time. Eskom, the national power company in South Africa, has struggled with power outages for years with no end in sight. The number of penguin chicks fed due to our partner’s ability to keep fish fresh during continued power outages will increase yearly.

“Dear Shannon and Kruger, on behalf of our CEO, Wilfred, the African Penguins at APSS, and our Dyer Island Colony, we can’t thank you enough for your incredible, lifesaving, donation. Thank you thank you, you literally saved us from having to turn away penguins.”

Hunger Crisis—How KruShan Foundation Ensured over 350 African Penguin Chicks Won’t Starve

“Dear Shannon and Kruger, on behalf of our CEO, Wilfred, the African Penguins at APSS, and our Dyer Island Colony, we can’t thank you enough for your incredible, lifesaving, donation. Thank you thank you, you literally saved us from having to turn away penguins.”

Christine Wessels, Public Relations / Personal Assistant: Wilfred Chivell–Founder African Penguin and Seabird Sanctuary.

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“Dear Shannon and Kruger, on behalf of our CEO, Wilfred, the African Penguins at APSS, and our Dyer Island Colony, we can’t thank you enough for your incredible, lifesaving, donation. Thank you thank you, you literally saved us from having to turn away penguins.”

Christine Wessels, Public Relations / Personal Assistant: Wilfred Chivell–Founder African Penguin and Seabird Sanctuary.

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