African penguin populations have declined by 98% in the last century. If we do not take IMMEDIATE ACTION, the species could be extinct within the next few years.

We have a plan to help them! Please, will you join us?

Tragically, it’s no longer unrealistic to imagine a world without these charming and ecologically vital creatures. There are only 10,000 African penguin breeding pairs left in South Africa. At the beginning of the 20th century, there were millions.

Endemic to the coasts of Southern Africa, the African penguin is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Climate change, oil spills, pollution, food scarcity because of overfishing and disease are taking a deadly toll, and it’s getting worse.

We are working with the Seabird and Penguin Rehabilitation Center (SAPREC) in Mossel Bay, South Africa. SAPREC is a haven for the endangered African penguin, endangered Cape gannet, and the Cape cormorant. Founder, Carol Walton, began rehabilitating sick and injured penguins and other seabirds in her garage 20 years ago. Over time, SAPREC was born and is driven by a single goal: to help save seabirds.

SAPREC has successfully rescued, rehabilitated and released over 1,000 penguins and seabirds who would have had a slim chance of survival without the organization’s help. But the situation is getting worse, not better, and now is the time for critical action.

SAPREC urgently needs to improve its intensive care unit (ICU) to cope with the influx of injured birds it knows is coming. At the moment, the ICU is housed in a rusting shipping container that has recently succumbed to severe weather damage. It is entirely ill-suited to accommodate sick and injured seabirds flooding through the center’s doors. To help the penguins, we desperately need to completely renovate the ICU unit. Doing so will help scores of injured penguins.

The ICU unit is an essential part of the lengthy rehabilitation process. The birds need regular monitoring, feeding, fitness and waterproofing assessments, and sociability. Once necessary milestones have been achieved, SAPREC chips the birds and releases them to a nature reserve nearby. It is imperative that we take every step necessary to maintain life-saving facilities like SAPREC to help save penguins.

If we can raise $5,000 (£4,200), we will immediately start work to protect and preserve South Africa’s dwindling penguin and seabird populations by creating an efficient ICU.

Right now, we urgently need to repair and seal the container, improve the infrared heating lamps, install well-sealed flooring to help prevent infection and install an air circulation system for sick birds with respiratory issues.

Endangered African penguins and seabirds are suffering terribly as a result of human encroachment on their habitats, and they will not survive without our help. Please, please, donate generously right now.

Our solution is simple, but we cannot do it without you.