CapeNature Dyer Island, in South Africa has had 35 baby penguins recently rescued to help reduce a rapid decline in the penguin population. Often times, at the end of the breeding season, the adults will abandon their chicks. The adults go off to molt, which prevents them from fishing and feeding their young.
Usually the CapeNature staff with let nature take its course, however large decrease in the penguin population has caused reason for concern and the need to intervene.
photo from “killthebird” on flickr
The young penguins have been moved to “the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (Sanccob), where they are to be hand-reared for three months and then released back into the wild.” says the IOL
Through various partnerships, the penguins have also received artificial penguin burrows to help protect the young from predators. The CapeNature website has a wonderful article about this story along with further information, inquiries and ways to assist in the efforts.