Robben Island is a 574 hectare (1,418 acre) Nature Reserve island found 11 kilometers from Table Bay harbour in Cape Town. Robben Island is South Africa’s largest coastal island and it rises 30 meters above sea level at its highest point. The island itself is covered in exotic terrestrial vegetation and rocks such as malmesbury shale. The exotic plant species and non-native trees are due to this island being one of the first areas colonized by European settlers.
Management Authority: Robben Island Museum
Population: Currently 1,007 African Penguin breeding pairs are found on Robben Island (Based on 2021 Census).
Other Notable Species on the Island: Bank Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo), Cape Cormorant (Microcarbo coronatus), Crowned Cormorant (Microcarbo coronatus), African Black Oystercatcher (Haematopus moquini), Hartlaub’s Gull (Chroicocephalus hartlaubii), Swift Tern (Thalasseus bergii), Kelp Gull (Larus dominicanus), Cape Spurfowl (Pternistis capensis), Chukar Partridge (Alectoris chukar), Indian Peafowl (Pavo cristatus), Cape Golden Mole (Chrysochloris asiatica), Sand Rain Frog (Breviceps rosei), Cape Dwarf Chameleon (Bradypodion pumilum), Gronovi’s Burrowing Skink (Scelotes gronovii). Introduced species include: Black Rat and Domestic Cat
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 Chick at SANCCOB.
Photo source: SANCCOB, https://sanccob.co.za/projects/chick-bolstering-project/
Robben Island Colony Map
African Penguin
population trends:
African Penguin Conservation Status:
Endangered
2022 Quarter 4
Update
African Penguin chicks in a box waiting to be processed by SANCCOB.
Photo source: SANCCOB, https://sanccob.co.za/projects/chick-bolstering-project/
In November, SANCCOB (Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds) admitted over 200 Penguin chicks and has continued to rehabilitate and release penguins.
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.
