OUR MISSION
The mission of the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds is to conserve seabirds, the African Penguin being the flagship species of focus, and, upon identification thereof, other complementary marine species.

“Our mission is to conserve”

OUR OBJECTIVES
SANCCOB is a registered non-profit organisation (NPO 003-134) whose primary objective is to reverse the decline of seabird populations through the rescue, rehabilitation and release of ill, injured, abandoned and oiled seabirds – especially critically endangered species like the African Penguin.

HISTORY
The Esso Essen spill, which took place in April 1968, was the first of the significant and publicly recognised oil spills. Affected seabirds were taken to the SPCA where they were washed with scrubbing brushes and dishwashing soap, and fed long strips of hake dipped in fish or sunflower seed oil. However, the SPCA was not adequately equipped to deal with the large numbers of birds in need of rehabilitation. As a result, a remarkable woman named Althea Louise Burman Westphal set up a temporary station at her home treating 60 severely oiled African Penguins that had been transported in a boat for about 11 days without being treated. The penguins were washed in Althea’s bathroom, rinsed off and then hosed.