Robben Island gets its first Sanccob seabird ranger

As part of the collaboration between the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (Sanccob) and Robben Island Museum (RIM), the World Heritage Site has its first seabird ranger. Andile Mdluli, who has been tasked with the job, will monitor the health and well-being of seabirds on the island, intervene if required, and also transfer seabirds that are injured, sick, oiled, or abandoned as chicks to Sanccob.

The appointment follows Sanccob's extension of its colony assistance to Robben Island, which is home to colonies of endangered African penguins, Bank cormorants and Cape cormorants, among other protected seabird species. The dedicated rangers are on the ground to monitor seabirds and report threats to management authorities; they play a critical role in Sanccob's conservation work to save Southern Africa's seabirds from extinction.