Prognostic Indicators of Rehabilitation Outcomes for Adult African Penguins (Spheniscus Demersus)

Parsons, Nola J.; Vanstreels, Ralph Eric Thijl; Schaefer, Adam M.

doi:10.7589/2017-06-146

Cited by 18 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 73 publications

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“…For chicks, the age subgroup was categorized into: P2 (medium chick, secondary down plumage fully developed), P3 (large chick, having lost less than 50% of down plumage) and P4 (large chick, having lost more than 50% of down plumage) (Klusener et al ., 2018). Reason for admission was categorized into five previously established categories: pre-emptive removal (chicks removed because their nests were at high-risk areas), abandonment, debilitation, injury and molt (Parsons et al ., 2018 a ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Determinants of external and blood parasite load in African penguins (Spheniscus demersus) admitted for rehabilitation

Snyman¹,

Vanstreels

Nell

et al. 2020

Parasitology

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We investigate the factors associated with the occurrence and abundance of external and blood parasites in African penguins (Spheniscus demersus), an endangered seabird that breeds exclusively on the coasts of Namibia and South Africa. External parasites were collected using the dust-ruffling method from 171 African Penguins admitted at a rehabilitation facility in the Western Cape, South Africa. Additionally, blood smears were obtained upon admission and weekly during rehabilitation and examined for blood parasites. Fleas Parapsyllus longicornis humboldti, ticks Ornithodoros capensis and lice Austrogoniodes demersus were recovered from 93, 63 and 40%, respectively, of the penguins upon admission to the centre. Rescue location and age group were identified as significant determinants of flea abundance, whereas month of admission was a significant determinant of tick abundance. Blood parasites were also common on admission, with Babesia being the most frequent (46% prevalence) whereas Borrelia was recorded sporadically (1.2%) and Plasmodium was recorded once. The prevalence and abundance of ticks on admission was positively associated with Babesia infection on admission. Our findings demonstrate the variability and contributing factor of parasite infections in an endangered species of penguin, and highlight the need for additional research on the parasite–host dynamics involving these potential disease vectors.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Determinants of external and blood parasite load in African penguins (Spheniscus demersus) admitted for rehabilitation

Snyman¹,

Vanstreels

Nell

et al. 2020

Parasitology

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“…In some cases, the outcome of rehabilitation is influenced by the condition of the animal before the injury or rescue as some adults rescued in spring or summer, for example, may be in poorer health immediately after breeding (Parsons et al, 2018). Therefore, adults admitted during a season when they are in poor body condition may have reduced chance of surviving rehabilitation.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Reason for admission can be an important predictor for rehabilitation outcome because some animals may have been rescued with no severe injuries and therefore can be expected to fully recover (Kelly et al., 2011; Molony et al., 2007; Wimberger & Downs, 2010). In some cases, the outcome of rehabilitation is influenced by the condition of the animal before the injury or rescue as some adults rescued in spring or summer, for example, may be in poorer health immediately after breeding (Parsons et al., 2018). Therefore, adults admitted during a season when they are in poor body condition may have reduced chance of surviving rehabilitation.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Causes of admission to a raptor rehabilitation centre and factors that can be used to predict the likelihood of release

et al. 2021

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Admission records of rescued birds are an important source of information for tracking the prevalence of human-related threats to wildlife. In this study, we used admission records from January 2015 to December 2016 to review the causes for raptor admissions to a raptor rehabilitation centre in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, and to determine factors that can be used to predict the outcome of rehabilitation. During the study period, 242 raptors were admitted to the centre, representing 33 species.The major causes of admission were collision-related injuries (52%), grounded birds (12%) and orphaned chicks (10%). The most common casualties were spotted eagleowl Bubo africanus (23%), yellow-billed kite Milvus migrans aegyptius/parasitus (12%), jackal buzzard Buteo rufofuscus (10%) and western barn owl Tyto alba (10%). The rehabilitation centre had a release rate of 48%. Reason for admission was a significant predictor of the outcome of rehabilitation while other variables were not. Raptors with no severe injuries such as orphaned chicks and grounded birds were more likely to have successful rehabilitation treatment than raptors suffering from collision injuries. Wildlife rehabilitators can use the results of the present study to develop triage guidelines for raptors admitted to rehabilitation centres.

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“…without a history that would suggest a compromised health status, the release rate achieved with SANCCOB’s hand-rearing was remarkably high (93%). This is a release rate equivalent to that of adult African penguins that were admitted due to oiling [ 36 ]. For the chicks that hatched at SANCCOB, the overall release rate was 57%; however, this rate increased rapidly over the years following the establishment of the Chick Rearing Unit, and in 2016 release rate was 87%.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

From incubation to release: Hand-rearing as a tool for the conservation of the endangered African penguin

Klusener¹,

Hurtado²,

Parsons³

et al. 2018

PLoS ONE

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The African penguin (Spheniscus demersus) population is estimated at 25,000 breeding pairs, approximately 5% of that at the start of the 20th century, and the species is currently classified as Endangered. In the last two decades, the hand-rearing of penguin chicks that were abandoned by their parents due to oil spills or other circumstances has become a valuable conservation tool to limit mortality and to bolster the population at specific colonies. We summarize and evaluate the techniques employed by the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB) to incubate and hand-rear African penguin eggs and chicks. From 2012 to 2016, a total of 694 eggs and 2819 chicks were received by SANCCOB’s Chick Rearing Unit. It was estimated that 13% of the eggs were infertile, and 81% of the fertile eggs hatched successfully. The overall release rate for chicks was 77%, with a higher release rate for chicks that were pre-emptively removed (93%) followed by chicks that had been abandoned by their parents (78%), chicks admitted due to avian pox lesions (61%), chicks that hatched from artificially-incubated eggs (57%), and chicks admitted due to injuries or deformities (25%). Rescuing and hand-rearing eggs and chicks has been a successful strategy for African penguins, and might be also applicable for the conservation of other threatened seabird species whose population are critically low or during natural or anthropogenic events that could have disastrous population impacts (e.g. oil spills, disease outbreaks, catastrophic weather events, strong El Niño years, etc.).

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Prognostic Indicators of Rehabilitation Outcomes for Adult African Penguins (Spheniscus Demersus)

Cited by 18 publications

References 73 publications

Determinants of external and blood parasite load in African penguins (Spheniscus demersus) admitted for rehabilitation

Determinants of external and blood parasite load in African penguins (Spheniscus demersus) admitted for rehabilitation

Causes of admission to a raptor rehabilitation centre and factors that can be used to predict the likelihood of release

From incubation to release: Hand-rearing as a tool for the conservation of the endangered African penguin

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