De Hoop is a 34,000 hectare (84,015 acre) Nature Reserve with a neighboring Marine Reserve extending 5 kilometers out to sea. This reserve is about 260 kilometers from Cape Town, South Africa.
Management Authority: CapeNature
Population: This area is a new location set to establish an African Penguin breeding colony. BirdLife South Africa, CapeNature, and SANCCOB have released over 100 penguins in this location over the past two years (2021 & 2022)
Other Notable Species in this location: Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus), Lesser Flamingo (Phoeniconaias minor), Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia), Chestnut-banded Plover (Charadrius pallidus), White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos), Yellow-billed Duck (Anas undulata), Cape Shoveler (Anas smithii), Red-knobbed Coot (Fulica cristata), Egyptian Goose (Alopochen aegyptiaca), Africa Marsh Harrier (Circus ranivorus), Blue Crane (Anthropoides paradiseus), Denham’s Bustard (Neotis denhami), Black Korhaan (Afrotis afra), Black Harrier (Circus maurus), Orange-breasted Sunbird (Anthobaphes violacea), Cape Sugarbird (Promerops cafer), Cape Spurfowl (Pternistis capensis), Cape Bulbul (Pycnonotus capensis), Cape Siskin (Serinus totta), Karoo Korhaan (Eupodotis vigorsii), Grey Tit (Parus afer), Agulhaus Long-billed Lark (Certhilauda brevirostris), Knysna Woodpecker (Campethera notata), African Black Oystercatcher (Haematopus moquini), Black Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo), Crowned Cormorant (Microcarbo coronatus), Cape Cormorant (Phalacrocorax capensis), Maccoa Duck (Oxyura maccoa), Verreauxs’ Eagle (Aquila verreauxii), Lanner Falcon (Falco biarmicus), Black Stork (Ciconia nigra), Agulhaus Long-billed Lark (Certhilauda brevirostris), Cape Spurfowl (Pternistis capensis), Cape Sugarbird (Promerops cafer), Southern Black Korhaan (Afrontis afra), Sand Toad (Vandijkophrynus angusticeps), Rain Frog (Breviceps macrops), Cape Sand Frog (Tomopterna delalandii), Silvery Dwarf Burrowing Skink (Scelotes bipes), Cape Grysbok (Raphicerus melanotis), Grey Rhebok (Pelea capreolus), Southern Adder (Bitis amata), Bontebok (Damaliscus pygargus), Cape Mountain Zebra (Equus zebra), Eland (Taurotragus oryx), Baboon (Papio ursinus), Yellow Mongoose (Cynictis penicillata), Caracal (Caracal caracal), Leopard (Panthera pardus), Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus), Common Dolphin (Delphinus delphis), Brown Fur Seal (Arctocephalus pusillus), Southern Right Whales (Eubalaena australis), Cape Vulture (Gyps coprotheres)
African Penguins (Spheniscus demersus)
- Lifespan: 20 years
- Conservation status: Endangered
- Population Trend: Decreasing
- Prey/diet: Anchovy, sardines, bearded goby (in Namibia), horse mackerel, juvenile hake, redeye, and less commonly cephalopods and crustaceans
African Penguin Chicks at SANCCOB.
Photo source: SANCCOB, https://sanccob.co.za/projects/chick-bolstering-project/
De Hoop Colony Map
African Penguin
Population Trends:
African Penguin Conservation Status:
Endangered
2022 Quarter 4
Update
African Penguin chick being tube fed by SANCCOB volunteers.
Photo source: SANCCOB, https://sanccob.co.za/projects/chick-bolstering-project/
This is the first time in 15 years that African penguins have been in De Hoop, the last record being 2008. SANCCOB (Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds) has been working with CapeNature and BirdLife South Africa to re-establish the De Hoop Colony.
As of November 18, 2022: a pair of chicks have been spotted at a nest site which is a great sign!
We have received word from the Cape Town facility that some African Penguins tested positive for the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), there is no cure for the Avian Influenza. Unfortunately, the three penguins that tested positive were humanely euthanized. SANCCOB has been placed under quarantine until further notice in effort to minimize the spread of the virus within the facility.
SANCCOB continues to accept abandoned penguins at their off-site quarantine facility. All birds cared for at SANCCOB are being closely observed and monitored for signs of HPAI. The situation has called for additional pathology testing which can cost $60 USD/ 58 EUR/ 1,000 ZAR per bird.
Your support of the Chick Bolstering Project is needed now more than ever. Thank you for choosing to be involved in this initiative.
2023 Quarter 1
Update
Coming soon.
