TOURISM at the Boulders penguin colony in Simon’s Town on the Cape Peninsula has grown significantly over the past couple of years, now totalling about 900,000 visitors annually, according to South African National Parks.

Justin Buchman, Senior Section Ranger for the southern section of Table Mountain National Park, says visitor numbers at Boulders are up 6-7%, with overseas tourists comprising the bulk of visitors to the attraction. The Boulders penguin colony is home to 854 breeding pairs of endangered African penguins.

The destination’s tourism success, he says, is partly due to its successful collective management by SANParks, the City of Cape Town’s Environmental Management Department, the South African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB) and the Cape Town Environmental Education Trust.

The City entered into a three-year agreement with SANCCOB in July last year to assist with penguin monitoring and research.  This saw the appointment of a site co-ordinator and four penguin monitors. Funded by SANCCOB, the project ensures that the birds are protected and can co-exist peacefully with residents and visitors. It includes:

• Residential sweeps:

Monitors look for penguins breeding outside the protected areas and move them to safety. Chicks and eggs found during these sweeps are taken to SANCCOB for incubation and hand-rearing.

• Microchip monitoring: Small microchips are implanted under the penguins’ skin to allow them to be identified with a hand-held reader, which facilitates data collection and reduces stress for the penguins.
• Annual breeding season: African penguins usually breed and moult once a year. The monitors conduct regular nest checks and counts. This data is used to determine the long-term breeding success of the population.
• Moult counts: During a moult, penguins are land-bound and cannot go to sea to feed.  When moulting coincides with the breeding period, adult penguins are unable to feed their chicks. The monitors then rescue the abandoned chicks and take them to SANCCOB for hand-rearing.
• Injured and oiled birds: The monitors rescue any injured and oiled birds they find and take them to SANCCOB for cleaning and rehabilitation.
• Reducing threats: The monitors daily check for any signs of predators and disease. Sick birds are removed and sent to SANCCOB.

When visiting the penguin colony, visitors are reminded to check under their cars for rogue penguins before driving off; and to drive slowly in areas where there may be penguins.